Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter 1: Dangerous encounter

It was a calm night, night had already befallen the city, the stars overshadowed by neon signs and buildings lights. Despite this, the streets were still bustling with people, the weary after-work crowd being replaced with citizens eager to experience urban nightlife, and all the eccentricities that came with it. Amidst the scene, a rather stoic man could be found seated in the back of a sleek black car, fitted in an expensive black suit as he read through numerous documents. His figure evoked a unique fear and fascination in the city residence due to his notable reputation, adding an intriguing layer to the city's charm.

He looked up to gaze into the car's rearview mirror. "Hyunsung, are we still not there?"

"No, it'll take a couple more minutes for us to arrive there, Sir," he responded, only glancing up for a second before returning his eyes to the road.

Joonghyuk sighed, placing the documents beside him. He loosened his necktie and leaned back in his seat, glancing out the window. The bustling city below was as lively as always, crowds of people making their way through the streets on their way to shops, restaurants, and bars to end their nights jovially before returning home to face their grueling jobs tomorrow. He closed his eyes, momentarily escaping into the sounds of the city. Because of this, he didn’t notice the particularly slim man that the car passed, and similarly enough the slim man was too engrossed with his phone to notice the oddly sleek car driving past him.

As they drove on, the roads slowly got emptier and emptier, the sounds of traffic fading away behind them. Upon entering a tunnel, the car’s surroundings were thrown into pitch black, the car’s front lights being the only source of light guiding the way forward. Hyunsung furrowed his brow in confusion. Was there some sort of construction problem that affected the tunnel light? He didn’t recall any warning or sign indicating that the tunnel was closed off though. Wary of driving so blindly, Hyunsung moved to slow down the car a bit.

But before he could Hyunsung suddenly noticed another car driving up beside theirs at an alarming speed. He attempted to maneuver to avoid it, but the car turned sharply to collide with the side of theirs. The subsequent impact jolted Joonghyuk’s eyes open.

"What the hell is happening?"

"I don't know, Sir, but I think they're here for you." Hyunsung didn’t take his eyes off the road for a second, straightening out the car before it could swerve out of control and then attempting to speed away. It was a futile endeavor; the opposing vehicle easily matched their speed and was soon joined by additional cars that had emerged from the darkness of a tunnel.

A barrage of gunshots began raining down on them. Yelling at his employer to duck down, Hyunsung desperately maneuvered through the chaos. Though the car and its windows had long been made bullet proof for an event just like this, there was no telling how long they could hold out until their assailants got a good shot at their engine. Exiting the tunnel and arriving onto the highway, the convoy of pursuing cars continued their relentless pursuit, firing their weapons.

The highway had become a battleground, with the relentless pursuit of the mysterious assailants casting a shadow over the once serene night. Joonghyuk, outraged, reached for the gun in the hidden department of the car, started pouring out enraged alpha pheromones. Shattering the already damaged window, he ignored Hyunsung’s cries to stop and started returning gunshots to the cars behind them, recklessly exposing himself to the bullets.

It was no use contemplating who might’ve been behind this attempt on his life. Being heir to the Yoo family, Joonghyuk had accumulated numerous enemies over the years, no stranger to constant threats on his life. Punishing whatever fool that was arrogant enough to target him would come later, right now survival was the priority.

Hyunsung, despite being confident in the director's ability to handle himself, gripped the steering wheel tighter as his anxiety skyrocketed. It wasn't a lack of faith in his boss's capabilities but rather the frustrating reality that one lucky shot from their assailants could doom both of them. Reaching to the car’s dashboard screen, he tried to see if he could call for assistance only to realize that the service of the area was poor. In this situation, their choices were limited, and Hyunsung focused on navigating the perilous highway, doing his best to evade the relentless pursuit.

Another car rammed into theirs and the vehicle shook, forcing Hyunsung to make a swift decision. Unable to turn back, he steered the car off its original course in a bid to shake some of the cars off their tail. In the turn, the car slowed down a bit, allowing some of the assailants to close in. Luckily, Hyunsung was adept enough to avoid them, and in their attempt not to crash into each other, some of the vehicles ended up flipping on their sides or ramming into the metal borders of the highway.

Caught off guard by the car’s sudden turn, Joonghyuk had to stop shooting to brace himself against door, but in that moment a bullet struck him in the arm. Recoiling in pain, he retreated, leaning against the car seat, his arm bleeding. Hyunsung, witnessing this in the rearview mirror, voiced his concern, "Director, are you okay?"

Joonghyuk assured him that he was fine through gritted teeth. Doubtful that the director was telling the truth, Hyunsung returned his focus to driving nonetheless, knowing there wasn’t much they could do. Alphas were known to be better at withstanding more pain than the average human, so he could only hope that Joonghyuk would hold out for a bit more. The pursuit persisted as Hyunsung turned into the forest, with the relentless cars still following them. Joonghyuk, having opened the first aid kit stashed in the backseat to wrap his wound. His attire now partially undone, spoke urgently, "Did you call for a back up?"

"I tried, sir, but the cell service is nonexistent here, I couldn't contact them."

An explosion went off, causing the car to shake violently. The window shattered completely, and glass shards from the window imbedded themselves into their skin. The shooting continued; it seemed like whoever sent these people wanted him dead. Two of the car’s were shot out by the pursuers, causing the car to lose control of itself and flip onto its side and start rolling.

The men were violently jostled around as it continued, glass shards digging into their skin all the while, with Joonghyuk slamming his head extremely hard against one of the car’s surfaces. The forest they’d driven into had quickly given away to a steep slope that lead down what appeared to be a residential neighborhood, and the car barreled all the way down.

Finally arriving at flat land, car finally came to a stop. Joonghyuk found himself unable to feel his body and his eyes refused to open, the only thing he could point out was the blood flowing from his head. Attempting to straighten his body, he experienced a sharp pain to his gut, prompting him to look down. To his horror, he discovered a piece of wood impaled in his abdominal area.

He looked at Hyunsung and to see that he was unconscious, blood staining his body. Joonghyuk forced himself to move, crawling his way out of the car’s window. Stumbling out, he cast one last bleary look at the now wrecked car and pushed himself to stumble down the neighborhood street. As reluctant as he was to leave Hyunsung behind, he wasn’t in any state to get him out of the wreck. In the best case scenario Joonghyuk would be able to get some help and get some backup to go back to save Hyunsung. But in the worst case… well at least Joonghyuk would have a chance to survive. In the face of danger, he understood that sacrifices might be unavoidable, he wasn't a saint.

As he walked through the silent neighborhood, uncertainty clouded Joonghyuk's mind. He had no idea where to go, unfamiliar with the area. The exhaustion and the pain from his wounds became overwhelming, leading him to collapse in front of a unfamiliar house. He couldn’t even muster up the energy to call out for help as he lay there.

In that vulnerable moment, Joonghyuk considered the possibility that these might be his final moments in this world. His mind couldn't help but think of Mia, how she was probably waiting for him to come home. He’d already prepared an inheritance for her; more than enough money to give her a comfortable life. Joonghyuk could only hope that one of his other colleagues would be able to take care of he, lest he didn’t survive the night. Lee Seolhwa came to his mind as a person who could fulfill that role, not necessarily as a mother or father figure, but someone who genuinely cared for Mia.

While it had been his decision to take up the mantle of the Yoo Family, it wasn’t Mia’s decision to have a brother that was always in danger. Almost everything he’d done until this moment was to ensure that she could have a good life, so she could life happily and do whatever she wanted do without having to constantly look over her shoulder for danger. Though he might not have been the parental figure that she needed or wanted, he hoped she would have someone to rely on and care for her, even if he couldn't be there himself. Joonghyuk, his eyes getting too heavy to keep open any longer, succumbed to his exhaustion, letting the pain fade away.

["Hey, remember to read the chapters I uploaded, okay?"]

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say..."

The man sighed and rolled his eyes, continuing to walk without paying much attention to his surroundings. His eye bags and dry skin hinted at the toll of staying awake to read novels.

["Yeah, whatever I say, so read my novels, you dumb slut squid,"] the voice nagged through the phone, he could practically hear her rolling his eyes at him.

"The heck? Since when did I become a slut? Are you sure you’re not looking in a mirror or something?"

["Hmph, well at least I have a girlfriend, so I can get as down and dirty as I want!"] the girl retorted, smugness evident in her voice.

Dokja became even more annoyed as he complained into his phone, "Well, no one wants me anyway, what am I supposed to do about it?!" He didn't care if someone heard him.

["Maybe if you pray hard enough, you’ll be isekai’d to one of my webnovels and seduce the tyrannical alpha prince. Ooh, ooh, maybe you'll catch an alpha mafia boss for yourself!"] she teased with a devilish voice, a wicked smile no doubt on her face.

"What do you mean? I'm not into someone like that..."

["Really?"] the girl drawled out, obviously not believing him, ["Then why do you always simp for my yandere characters?”]

"I do not!"

["Really?"]

"..."

When the Dokja didn't answer her question, the woman burst into howling laughter. "Stop laughing!" he yelled at her. As the woman's laughter persisted, Dokja chose to end the call and huffed out a heavy sigh, stomping his way home. He’d already spent a grueling day at work, he didn’t need to deal with this slander any longer (even if she was right). It looked like the world had other plans for him, though. Upon reaching the familiar surroundings of his home, a chilling sight awaited him – a man lay sprawled on the ground, drenched in blood, his body limp and unmoving. Dokja's breath hitched, his heart racing as he stood there, unsure of how to react to the gruesome scene before him.

"...What the hell?"

Chapter Text

Chapter 2: Mysterious Man

Dokja couldn't say anything else as he stared at the lifeless body of the bloodied man. Unsure of what to do, he continued to gape at the scene. "Is he dead?" he muttered to himself, his legs subtly shaking as he stepped towards the body. He squatted down and put his hand against the man’s neck, feeling a faint pulse.

With reality sinking in, he examined the surroundings. It was dark out and past midnight, no one awake the witness the scene outside his home. If someone saw him with a bloody man, they might think he was the one responsible for the situation. The thought scared him as he stared at the man skeptically. Suddenly, the man let out a pained groan, making Dokja realize that the man may have still be conscious.

In a panic, he looked around, trying to figure out his next steps. With his anxiety getting worse by the second, he reached into his pocket and grabbed his phone, dialing Han Sooyoung's phone number with jittering fingers. He really didn’t want to be responsible for a man dying…

[“Hey, did you already read the c—"]

"What should I do if there's a man covered in blood in front of my house?" he asked, his voice shaking.

["…huh…?"]

Not able to bear the stress of the situation for a second longer, Dokja repeated himself, yelling into the phone’s speaker, "Han Sooyoung, what should I do if there's a man covered in blood in front of my house?!" He looked around to see if someone heard or saw him.

[“ OF COURSE CALL THE AMBULANCE, YOU IDIOT!!"] It seemed the panic was contagious, Sooyoung’s voice shaking as she realized that Dokja wasn’t joking.

Dokja blinked. His panic had jumbled his mind so much that it didn’t even occur to him to do that in the first place.

[“Why the hell is there a body in fro—”]

“Thanks, I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Without giving her a chance to respond, he hung up the call and dialed an ambulance. The call went without a hitch, Dokja able to give the person answering the details of the stranger’s injuries and what address to dispatch the responders to. Afterward, he was made to stay on the line, the lady on the phone giving him instructions on how to handle the body as to minimize the blood loss. But the task was easier said than done.

The man had numerous wounds on his body, bruises, lacerations, punctures, and… were those bullet holes? Dokja went to wipe some blood off the man's cheek, and the man groaned, causing him to flinch black. Maneuvering the man to lay on his back Dokja’s face turned pale when he noticed that the man had been stabbed in the abdominal area with a piece of wood, with a significant amount of blood was flowing out.

He could do nothing more but wait for the ambulance to arrive.

Hospital

The officer, with a stern expression, looked at Dokja’s visible distress and inquired, "Do you really not know that man?" He continued writing diligently in his notebook, the scratch of the pen against paper never stopping as he recorded Doja’s every word.

"That’s right. He was just lying in front of my house, covered in blood. I had to call for help," Dokja explained, his voice filled with concern. The officer nodded as he noted down the details.

Dokja anxiously shifted his focus towards the emergency room, his fingers fidgeting nervously. He turned to the officer and asked, "Do you think he will be alright?" The man's entire body had been covered in wounds and he was drenched in his own blood. Even if he didn’t succumb to his injuries, his body may be permanently damaged.

The officer paused from writing in his notebook, sighed, and glanced at Dokja. He then turned his attention to the emergency room door and reassured him, "Well, he's an alpha, so I'm confident he'll be fine." The officer wore a serious expression, attempting to provide some comfort amid the tense situation.

Dokja fell silent, his gaze still fixed on the emergency room door, his expression filled with concern. He suddenly remembered that he had yet to learn the man's name.

"Have you discovered his identity?"

The officer shook his head, "No, I haven’t. There's no credit card, ID, phone, or anything." The officer handed Dokja his card, telling him to call the police station if and when he had any more information to tell about the mystery man. Dokja simply nodded in acknowledgment as the officer left. The uncertainty lingered, leaving him pondering the events that led to the man's discovery.

After about half an hour afterward, the light above the emergency room flickered off and the door opened, and a doctor walked out. Eager to get an update on the stranger, Dokja approached her.

"Excuse me? About the patient in that room… is his condition okay now?"

Recognizing Dokja as the man who had accompanied the patient, the doctor took off her mask and nodded.

"He’s lost a considerable amount of blood and suffered from numerous injuries, though the most worrying were the head trauma as well as a stab wound in his abdominal area. Fortunately, the operation was successful, and we’ve already treated the other mild injuries he’s sustained. Though we don’t know the severity of his head trauma, only thing we can do now is wait for him to regain consciousness." Dokja, upon hearing the news, nodded gratefully at the doctor, just happy knowing that the man was stable now.

The doctor continued, "We will now be transferring him over to the recovery room. We’ll be sure to contact you if he wakes up, and when the time comes that you can visit his room." The door of the emergency room opened, revealing a stretcher being moved out by nurses. As it passed by Dokja, he finally caught a glimpse of the man's face.

Dokja was greeted by the visage of a man whose features seemed as if they were bestowed by the gods. The long eyelashes that fanned over the man’s face were complemented by thick eyebrows. His slightly wavy, black hair was cut short and slicked back. Tan skin stood out despite his blood loss, and his face was framed with a strong jawline. Even in the midst of sleep, he retained a handsome appearance that caught Dokja's attention.

He continued to gaze at the retreating stretcher, unable to believe the existence of a man with such striking features, seemingly favored by the gods. Dokja had caught a brief whiff of his scent, no doubt belonging to that of an alpha, though he found it challenging to put into words.

The image of the handsome man lingered in Dokja's mind. As he stood there, watching the stretcher disappear from view, Dokja couldn't shake his intrigue sparked by the enigmatic stranger. The questions about the man's identity and circumstances continued to swirl in Dokja's mind, leaving him with a mix of emotions in the quiet aftermath of the dramatic events at the emergency room.

Chapter Text

Chapter 3: Lover?!

In a towering skyscraper, bathed in the ambient glow of city lights, a distinguished looking man stood pensively by a broad window. A glass of fine wine in hand, his countenance was one of profound contemplation. A hushed atmosphere enveloped the room, only to be broken by the hurried steps of Lee Jihye. Her gaze fixated on the man, freezing her movement as she absorbed the weight of the room’s tension. The air is thick with unspoken thoughts.

"Any updates?"

"None, Sir," she admitted with a tinge of resignation, "we can't trace the location of the director."

The man remained silent, his gaze fixed on the cityscape beyond the window.

"Can't we just publicly announce that the director is missing?"

"No, too many people are already watching us like hawks because of his status. If they find out he’s out of the picture for now, no doubt they’ll try to snuff us out all at once. We can't afford to go public with this."

"Then what should we do, Sir?" Jihye's concern for her master was apparent as she looked down, worry etched on her face.

Turning his body to face Jihye directly, the man locked eyes with her, speaking firmly, "Get your team and find him immediately, don’t spare any resources, we need him back as soon as possible."

Jihye nodded and made her way out the room, mentally preparing herself for the task ahead. She couldn’t fail this, for the sake of her master. Just as she was about to reach the elevator her attention was drawn to snow-white hair and lips as red as a rose—Lee Seolhwa. Perking up, Jihye bounded over to her and called out, "Unnie!"

Seolhwa turned towards the younger girl, her long hair following her movement like silk. A warm smile graced her lips, "Lee Jihye..."

Jihye grinned and directed her gaze towards the medical equipment that Seolhwa was carrying. "Ah wait, I’m not holding you up or anything right? Are you busy right now?” The doctor reassured her with a gentle shake of her head. "Oh, no worries about that. I'm going to see Hyunsung for a check-up,"

"Hyunsung is already awake?"

Seolhwa blinked at her, confusion in her eyes, "Yes, I thought you already knew....Would you care to accompany me to visit him?"

Lee Jihye nodded eagerly at her, a bright smile overcoming her face "Yeah, don’t mind if I do!”

As they traversed the quiet expanse of a long hallway within a building, an amicable silence enveloping them, Jihye's thoughts weighed heavily on her. Unable to contain her concern any longer, she cautiously posed the question to Seolhwa, "Unnie, do you think master is okay?" Her gaze remained fixed ahead, avoiding direct eye contact. 

Seolhwa responded after a thoughtful pause, "Of course, the chairman wouldn't have made him the heir if he wasn’t strong enough to survive this side of the business."

"Besides, as long there’s no confirmation of his condition, I still believe that he’s alive," she continued. Seolhwa then looked down, her voice softening, as she confided in a hushed tone, "But believe me when I say I’m still concerned for his well-being, wherever he may by."

The hallway, with its muted lighting and silent ambiance, became a backdrop to the unspoken fears and hopes shared between the two companions. Each step carried them further into the unknown, leaving the question of Joonghyuk’s fate lingering in the air like a delicate thread waiting to be unraveled.

The sun had already ascended in the sky, casting its warm glow across the room as the man slowly opened his eyes. His eyes fixed on the pristine white ceiling, his expression blank. Blearily taking in the details of his surroundings, the rest of the room was the same: painted white with not a spec of dirt in sight. If he was any less aware he would’ve thought, he’d gone to heaven. A single bed cradled him, the crisp white sheets neatly arranged. A balcony beckoned him over with the promise of fresh air and sunlight, adorned with a side table and a chair poised near the open doors. The quiet serenity of the scene outside filtered into the room, creating a peace of mind that enveloped him as he continued to survey the space.

He attempted to shift his body, but a wave of pain surged through every inch of him , prompting a pained groan to escape his lips. Confusion etched across his face as he asked himself how exactly he ended up here. He tried recalling anything he could about what happened to him before waking up, only to find the absence of his own name from his memories. Now disoriented in body and in mind, frustration marred his features as he attempted to recall, but the mere effort triggered a throbbing pain in his head. His hand instinctively reached towards his temple, only to be interrupted by the sudden creak of the opening door. His attention swiftly shifted to the entrance, where a petite man entered the room. The newcomer's eyes widened in surprise upon seeing the man awake.

"Who are y—"

"Wait there, I’ll call the doctor!" The man was left speechless as the stranger hastily scurried away, leaving a lingering sense of uncertainty.

Left alone with his thoughts, the man pondered the stranger who had entered the room. Was he a friend? Would he be able to fill in the missing pieces of his memory? As he lay there, questions swirled in his mind like an elusive fog. His mind offered no clues, and he found himself grasping at threads that seemed just out of reach.

After a moment the door swung open once again, revealing the stranger from earlier accompanied by a doctor and nurse. The doctor immediately began questioning him about his condition as the nurse checked on the machinery supporting him, but his gaze remained fixated on the petite man, who attentively listened to the doctor's instructions. With black hair, fair skin, and a pale complexion, the man appeared unremarkable at first glance. Yet, he found himself captivated, his eyes lingering on every detail—perhaps it was the subtle charm or an inexplicable allure that held his gaze. There was something in the way he carried himself, an aura that transcended mere physical appearance.

"Sir?" the doctor inquired, concern etched on his face. Startled from his reverie, the man redirected his attention to the doctor who had addressed him. "Are you listening to me?"

"…No," he answered plainly, before shifting his gaze back to the petite man, who was now looking at him bewilderedly.

"Hey... what's your name?" 

The petite man’s eyes widened, visibly taken aback. He flinched slightly and pointed to himself, "Are you asking me?" 

"Am I looking at someone else?"

"...." 

"So what's your name." 

"…K-Kim Dokja," he replied carefully. Despite the respectful smile quirked on his face, his discomfort was evident under the man's scrutinizing gaze. 

The man didn’t stop looking at him for a second, studying his features up and down. The lack of any striking resemblance ruled out the possibility of this Kim Dokja person being a family member. Instead, the man's mind raced through the remaining options – probably a friend or lover. Kim Dokja shifted uncomfortably under the intensity, avoiding direct eye contact and fidgeting slightly.

"Hey..."

"Yes?!"

"Are you my lover?"

Chapter Text

Chapter 4: Amnesia

Dokja and the doctor stood frozen, their eyes widening in disbelief as they stared at Joonghyuk. His expression was serious, almost grave, as he locked eyes with Dokja.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still as they all grappled with Joonghyuk's words. The silence stretched on, all of them waiting for each other to explain themselves.

Finally, Dokja found his voice, though it came out as a whisper. "What...what did you just say?" he managed to choke out.

Joonghyuk's expression softened slightly at Dokja's reaction, though the seriousness remained in his eyes. "I asked if you were my lover," he repeated. He glanced at the doctor, wordlessly asking what was wrong with everyone, but he too seemed at a loss for words. He exchanged a brief glance with Dokja, silently communicating their shared bewilderment.

Joonghyuk tilted his head, "Are you just going to stand there forever?"

"No!" Dokja yelled abruptly, startling the room’s occupants. Flustered by his outburst, Dokja cleared his throat.

"I mean…no," he repeated firmly, his voice stronger this time. "I don't even know your name, I found you passed out and brought you here," he added.

The doctor nodded, returning to his professional demeanor.

"He's right," the doctor chimed in, "There must be some misunderstanding, sir. I believe you may be experiencing some form of amnesia. Mister Dokja here found you unconscious outside his home, covered in wounds and bleeding out."

Joonghyuk shifted his attention towards Dokja, who, in turn, avoided making direct eye contact, the lingering awkwardness still in the air. Dokja found himself looking down, as if the answers to everyone’s questions were hidden in the depths of the floor beneath him.

Joonghyuk wrestled with his thoughts, a visible strain etched across his face as his brow furrowed in concentration. Yet, despite his efforts, the elusive memories remained just out of reach, teasing him with fragments that refused to form a coherent narrative. A sudden headache pierced through Joonghyuk's head, making him wince.

The doctor observed his actions with a clinical eye. "Sir, please don't force yourself to remember, putting too much pressure on your mind will only exacerbate the damage to your brain."

His eyes briefly flickering over to the doctor, Joonghyuk nodded reluctantly. His gaze wandered aimlessly, the doctor's words echoing faintly in the background as Joonghyuk wondered what he could do about his situation. The room around him blurred, the faces of Dokja and the doctor fading into the periphery as Joonghyuk retreated back into his head, now a world of half-formed memories and shadowy recollections.

After a minute or so of the doctor rambling on, catching him up to date on his condition and giving instructions on things he should and shouldn’t do while recovering, the room gradually emptied, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

As Dokja and the doctor exited the room, Dokja turned to the doctor, concern in his eyes.

"Will he be okay?"

The doctor offered a sympathetic nod. "It's hard to say for certain," he replied thoughtfully, "but with time and proper care, there's a good chance he'll make progress in regaining his memories."

Dokja's gaze fell to the ground, a mix of emotions swirling within him. Before they left the room, the look in the man’s eyes was… heart wrenching. He seemed lost and resigned. For him the only people that had visited him were strangers obligated to take care of him. How lonely it must be for him, not knowing if there was anything he could do, or anyone out there to help him.

The doctor, sensing Dokja's worry gently placed a hand on Dokja's shoulder, prompting him to meet his gaze.

"Don't worry," he began, "he will be fine. My team and I will see to it that he has a comfortable experience as he recovers. But with that, I must consult you about our next course of action.” The doctor’s tone changed to something more serious.

“As you know, Mr. Dokja, since we haven’t yet been able to uncover his identity, we have no friends, family or emergency contacts to each rely on to take care of him. With his physical wounds healing up just fine, when the time comes that he’s to be discharged from the hospital, I’d like you to be the one that takes care of him as he recovers his memory.”

Dokja's recoiled in shock. "Huh? Why me? I mean, is that even okay to begin with? What about the authorities handling his case?"

The doctor considered Dokja's questions carefully before responding, "As of now, we are the only people that the patient is familiar with, and for the sake of his recovery I want to minimize the number of new factors introduced to his personal space as possible. While it's important to consider the legal and procedural aspects of his case, ultimately, what matters most is the well-being and recovery of the individual. Your care and support could greatly contribute to his healing process, and I believe the authorities will understand and that."

"And don't worry, I will speak to the officers about this matter. I'm confident they will agree with our decision. While this isn’t standard procedure, considering the little amount of information we have about him, this is the best we can do for now."

Dokja tried taking in everything the doctor had told him, his mind too slow to keep up with all these sudden developments. Luckily for him, before he could flounder around to find his answer his phone began to ring.

"Err, sorry, I need to take this call," he explained, the doctor giving a nod before swiftly walking away. Dokja clicked the accept button on the screen.

"Hell—"

[“My lovely girlfriend has just informed me you haven’t come into the office yet. Spill the tea Dokja, you’re visiting the hospital again, aren’t you?”]

Dokja sighed, as much as he loved his friends sometimes, he felt they were a bit too overprotective of him.

"Yeah, yeah, you two caught me red-handed.“

Sooyoung chuckled over the line, [“Hasn’t it been three days already? What’s going on with the guy, were his injuries really that bad?”]

"About that, he actually woke up 30 minutes ago." He recounted the previous moments to her, his amnesia and how the stranger mistook him for his lover.

[“Oh, really now?”] she purred out, [“Just you wait, he’d totally going to fall in love with you, all the story tropes are pointing in that direction! Shit, hold on, I need to write this down somewhere!”] she said, her voice getting distant. Dokja could make out some rustling from her end of the line, like she really was getting something to jot down her idea on.

He rolled his eyes at her "Give the poor man a break, Sooyoung. He’s already suffering from injuries and amnesia; he doesn’t need someone like me to bring down his life even more.”

[“Hey, come on, have some faith in yourself,”] she chided. [“He mistook you as his partner, you’re probably his type or something.”] Despite her sometimes-harsh bluntness, Sooyoung's never liked seeing her friend bee too hard on himself, something that happened too often, unfortunately. Dokja fell silent, not sure how to respond.

[“Anyway, any other news?”] Sooyoung asked, steering the conversation in a different direction.

"Yeah, actually you called at a good time. The doctor said that I should be the one who takes care of him, I think I need some opinions on what to do about that"

[“…what?”]

"The doctor said—"

[“I heard you but why?”]

"Well, we haven’t found his identity yet, so there’s not really anyone to contact. He’ll be discharged soon, and since he’d already familiar with me the doctor just figured it’d be easier this way…”

Sooyoung remained silent, a rare occurrence, considering the fact that she always had a snarky response prepared for everything. Just as Dokja was going to ask her if she was okay, Sooyoung started to speak, [“Hey, rat... not to be overthink or anything, but... what if the guy turns out to be some pyscho murderer? I know you love your yanderes and everything, but I think this is pretty far, even for you…”]

"Hey, we already talked about this, stop that," he retorted, exasperated. "And if he is a murderer, then be thankful for the last days you're going to see me. When I die, I’ll haunt you as a ghost and steal your candy for the rest of yo— Eh? Han Sooyoung? Are you still there?"

Dokja looked at his phone only to be greeted by the ‘Call Ended’ screen. Sighing, he put it back into his pocket. Honestly, Sooyoung’s point wasn’t entirely farfetched. He knew literally nothing about this man, yet the hospital was asking him to take in a stranger for who knows how long. But then again, Dokja just couldn’t leave him as he was.

He couldn’t forget the stranger’s shining eyes as he asked if Dokja was his lover, and the subsequent resignation that took over his expression as he had to accept that he was powerless against his amnesia. After thinking for a moment, Dokja cursed under his breath and turned around to go to the man's room.

Chapter Text

Chapter 6: A man with a forgotten memories

When Dokja opened the door, the stranger was sitting motionlessly on the bed, his eyes fixed intently outside the window. It looked like everything and nothing at all was on his mind. Shifting his weight, Dokja remained rooted to the spot, unsure of whether he should interrupt the man's solitude.

After a moment, he made up his mind. Dokja sighed softly as he approached the man, his steps tentative. The room’s silence immediately gave him away, the man’s attention landing heavily on him. It wasn't that Dokja was scared of him per se, but there was a certain seriousness to his demeanor that made Dokja feel the need to watch himself just a bit more around him. It may have been partially because of the internal turmoil the guy was currently going through, but Dokja couldn’t help but think that he was also just a naturally intimidating man.

"I... I didn't mean to intrude," he began, his voice soft. "I just wanted to make sure you were alright."

The man's expression remained inscrutable, and Dokja felt a twinge of uncertainty. Had he overstepped his bounds? He wasn’t that much of a conversationalist, and just judging from their brief interaction earlier, neither was he. Though, he guessed it was a bit of dumb thing to say, no one would be okay after losing their memories. Just as Dokja was about to apologize and retreat, the man sighed, turning back towards the window, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm not sure," he admitted. "There's just... a lot on my mind right now."

The only experience of amnesia Dokja had had was from the honeyed words of his novels, the phenomena being a convenient plot device to move the story along to the next point, or even prevent that exact thing from happening. Perhaps there was a sliver of truth to those pages he’d scoured through relentlessly, the whirlwind of emotions, the sense of uncertainty in everything, feeling adrift, disconnected from one's own past and identity. Yet, Dokja knew that his understanding was, at best, an educated guess. His knowledge was limited to the realm of fiction, and he was acutely aware that the reality was vastly different.

"Why exactly are you here?" the man asked, his tone neutral but with a hint of curiosity underlying it. Dokja blinked, caught off guard by the question. He had been so lost in his own musings that he had momentarily forgotten the reason he came back in the first place.

Clearing his throat, Dokja replied, "I... I wanted to make sure you were alright. You seemed... troubled, and I didn't want you to be alone if you needed someone to talk to."

"…I see," the man said, his voice low and thoughtful. "And what made you think I needed your help?"

Dokja felt a flush of embarrassment creep up his neck.

"I-I'm sorry," Dokja stammered, " You just… you just looked a bit lost there for a second. But I shouldn't have assumed. I'll leave you be."

Dokja turned to go, his heart sinking with the realization that he may have offended him. But before he could take a step, the man's voice stopped him.

"Wait," the man called out, his voice gentler than before. "I... appreciate your concern. It's just that... I have no idea what to do with myself." His gaze was no longer as guarded, a hint of vulnerability seeping through the cracks in his stoic facade.

"I understand," Dokja replied, his voice low and soothing. "It can't be easy, dealing with so much on your own." He took a tentative step closer, but made sure to keep a respectful distance, not wanting to intrude further without the man's consent.

The man nodded, his eyes drifting away from Dokja's as he seemed to grapple with his own thoughts. "There's just... so much I'm trying to make sense of," he admitted, his brow furrowing slightly. "Pieces of my memory that don't quite fit together, questions that I can't seem to find the answers to."

Dokja listened intently, his heart aching for the man's obvious struggle. "I'm here, if you need someone to talk to. I may not have all the answers, but I can try to be a listening ear, if you'd like."

The man stared at the man named Kim Dokja. He was a mere stranger, someone that came across him by chance and who probably only saved him out of somw moral obligation. He should’ve been cautious about Dokja, he didn’t know anything past his name. However, there was something about Dokja’s smile that made him want to believe the man. And maybe it was because of the scent that had been wafting off him. It was a scent of lavender and old books. Home, it reminded him of home.

"It's just... everything feels..." he paused, struggling to find the right words. "I don't know, it's just... feels—"

"Strange?" Dokja interjected lightly.

"Yes," the man replied, tinged with a hint of relief. "Strange. Everything just feels... off, somehow. Like I'm not quite where I'm supposed to be, or like I'm missing something important, but I can't quite put my finger on it." He let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders sagging slightly. "It's been weighing on me, this sense of... displacement. I can't seem to shake it, no matter how hard I try."

Dokja hummed thoughtfully. "I can only imagine how unsettling that must feel, to have a persistent feeling of being out of place, of something being fundamentally... off. It's a heavy burden to bear."

The man's gaze met Dokja's, and in that moment, Dokja could see the vulnerability and the longing in the older man's eyes. It was a look that spoke volumes, a silent plea for someone to understand.

"Don't worry, I might not know exactly what you're going through, but just remember that I'm here to help." He offered the man a warm, reassuring smile. "Actually, we may be seeing a lot more of each other than you think. The doctor suggested that I should be the one to take care of you while you recover."

The man's brow furrowed slightly, confusion crossing his features. "The doctor?" he echoed, his gaze searching Dokja's face for any further explanation.

Dokja's nodded, "Yeah. I know we just met, but… since I’m kind of the only person you know and the hospital has no one else to call..."

"Anyway, you’ll be under my care for now, which means that you’ll be staying at my house for the meantime. But don't worry, once we find out who you are or if your memory returns, whichever happens first, you’ll be free to go back to whoever may be waiting for you."

The man listened intently, a frown forming in concentration as he tried to process the information. The idea of staying at a stranger's house, even temporarily, was a bit uncomfortable. Though he couldn’t deny that he was a little at ease that it was Dokja who would be taking him in of all people.

Sensing the man’s unrest, Dokja tried his best to reassure him. "And please, don't worry about anything. I promise I’ll do everything I can to make you comfortable while you recover. My home is your home, for as long as you need it for. You can rest easy, focus on regaining your memories, and let me handle the rest. I'll make sure you're comfortable and well-cared for."

The man's expression softened, and he nodded slowly. "Alright, I... I trust you. If you believe this is the best course of action, then I'm willing to give it a try."

Dokja's smile widened, and he placed a hand on the man's shoulder. "Excellent. I'm glad you're willing to give this a chance. Together, we'll get through this, one step at a time."

The man returned Dokja's smile, gratitude shining in his eyes. With Dokja by his side, he felt a little less adrift, and a little more grounded.

"I still don't get you, rat," Sooyoung said. They were sitting in a cafe with Sangah, one of his co-workers.

Dokja rolled his eyes as he read the manuscript on Sooyoung's laptop. "You would let a complete stranger stay in your house when you don't like people being in your comfort zone?" she grumbled. "Even me, when I just spent one night - ONE NIGHT - you would complain!"

Dokja held up his hands in a placating gesture as Sooyoung's voice rose in volume. "Quit yelling at me, everyone's looking at us now, you witch," he said, glancing around the cafe. Dokja was right - the other customers had turned their attention to the heated exchange between the two, their eyes filled with judgment.

Sangah, who had been quietly observing the exchange, spoke up. "Sooyoung," she called out softly, placing a hand on her girlfriend's arm. "Dokja is right, let's be calm about this, okay?"

Sooyoung's shoulders slumped, always one to give in to whatever Yoo Sangh said. Despite Sangah's attempt to de-escalate her anger, though, Sooyoung grit her teeth and crossed her arms tightly across her chest, still glaring intently at Dokja. She was far from ready to let the matter go.

Dokja, on the other hand, was perfectly content with avoiding her eyes. He didn’t want to get into an argument with her over this, even if he wasn't willing to back down completely.

"Ugh, I still don't get it, alright!" she exclaimed "You would let someone, an alpha of all things, stay in your house? Have you lost your mind?"

Nothing good could come out of having an unmated alphas and omegas in the same house, everyone knew that. People would start talking. If anything happened between the two, nonconsensual or not, everyone would just chalk it up to the omega seducing the alpha against their will. The omega would always take the fall, whether they were actually at fault or not.

Sooyoung might act like an asshole sometimes, but whenever Dokja was caught up in something as serious as this, her protective side always come out to try to defend him. Despite her occasional teasing and abrasive behavior, Sooyoung deeply valued her friendship with Dokja, and when push came to shove, she’ll always be there to support him.

"Let it go, Sooyoung. The guy lost his memories and I'm the only one the hospital can rely on to take care of him. Besides, I want help him get better, I kinda feel responsible for him..." he said without looking at her, still reading.

Sooyoung's frown only grew bigger as she pressed Dokja further. "But still!" she yelled, clearly not satisfied with his response. She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Tell me... is it because of his face?"

Dokja flinched visibly. He turned his full attention to her, a hint of unease in his voice as he asked, "W-what do you mean by that?"

Sooyoung's eyes narrowed as she studied Dokja's reaction. "I mean exactly what I said, you rat!" she exclaimed, leaning in close as she glared at him. "Tell me, he's handsome, isn't he? Come on, tell me - I know your weakness is handsome men."

Dokja's eyes widened in surprise at Sooyoung's sudden intensity. He leaned back slightly, putting a bit of distance between them. "W-what? No, that's not it at all, Sooyoung. I'm not...he's not... I-I mean he is but I’m not—" He stumbled over his words, flustered by her accusation.

"Don't try to deny it, Dokja. I know you too well. If there's some good-looking guy involved, I know you won't be able to resist getting involved, no matter how much trouble it might bring." She crossed her arms over her chest, an almost triumphant look on her face.

Dokja felt his cheeks heat up, both from embarrassment and frustration. "That's not what this is about, Sooyoung. I'm telling you, there's something else going on here. I'm not just trying to help some random attractive guy, okay? There's more to it than that."

Sooyoung leaned back, her posture relaxing slightly. "Fine, Dokja, I'm listening. But you better not be holding anything back from me. You know I can always tell when you're hiding something."

Dokja let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping. "Yeah, I know, Sooyoung. You can always see right through me." He ran a hand through his hair, a rueful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Sooyoung's expression softened, and she reached out to give his arm a gentle squeeze. "Hey, you know I'm just looking out for you, right? I care about you, Dokja. If there's something going on that's bothering you, I want you to be able to talk to me about it."

Dokja nodded, meeting her gaze. "I know, Sooyoung. And I appreciate it, really."

Chapter Text

Chapter 6: Joonghyun

A few more days passed before the man could discharged from the hospital. During those days, Dokja always went to see him, the two of them getting to be more familiar with each other. Most of their conversations were over random, nonsensical topics, with the stranger not really able tell Dokja much about himself for obvious reasons. However, whenever they ran out of things to discuss, Dokja would start telling the man about the stories he had read, gushing about how much he loved the protagonists, often rambling on as he did so. This did not bother the man as much as he thought it would; in fact, he enjoyed seeing Dokja's enthusiasm. It was like Dokja’s entire countenance would shine brighter when he talked about his favorite stories. Though, there would be times he needed to comfort him when his favorite characters died. Other times, the man would even hear Dokja yelling and cursing at the characters he disliked. It was routine by now, but he never grew bored of it.

"Here we are," Dokja said as they arrived at the front of his house. The man stared at the modest, two-story building in front of them. It was a typical suburban home, neither particularly large nor small, with a well-maintained exterior painted in a neutral beige color. The house had a simple, rectangular shape with a gabled roof covered in dark asphalt shingles. A small porch extended from the front, supported by plain white columns. The front yard was neatly landscaped, with a few shrubs lining the walkway that led up to the front door. Overall, the house had a comfortable, lived-in appearance, giving the impression of a cozy, middle-class family residence. It was a standard, unassuming home, but one that seemed to suit Dokja's personality well.

(Dokja didn’t care to bring up how much his shoulders ached from having to scrub away all the blood on his porch. Getting all those strange stares from his neighbors was not a fun experience)

If someone asked Dokja how he could afford this house, he would explain that it was because of his step-parents. In the beginning, Dokja didn't want to take the house because he felt they had already done so much for him, and it felt like too much. However, his step-parents insisted on it.

Dokja would have been fine to continue living in the small apartment he had owned previously. But one visit was all it took for his step-parents to deem that it was too tiny and cramped for him. They wanted Dokja to have a proper, comfortable home. So, despite their son's initial hesitation, they were persistent in their care for him, and now Dokja was now living in the modest, two-story house that his step-parents gifted him.

"Now let's go inside, Joonghyun-ah!" Dokja grabbed the man's wrist and guided him into the house. Neither of them still had any idea of what his actual name was, but Dokja thought it best to at least give him a temporary name instead of just referring to him as ‘Mr. Stranger’ as he had been for the first few days. Dokja had simply picked that name from one of his favorite novels, and he felt it suited the man, he had a rugged, apocalyptic look about him anyway.

Joonghyun let Dokja drag him inside the house. Taking a look at the surroundings, there was a long sofa and two single-person lounge seats arranged in front of a coffee table. A television was placed in front of the seating area, and on the walls around them Joonghyun noticed various framed pictures, likely of Dokja and his family.

The interior had a comfortable, lived-in feel, with nothing too extravagant or out of the ordinary. It was simply a standard, well-furnished living room, the kind one would expect to find in a normal home. Joonghyun took it all in, feeling a sense of calm in the domestic setting.

As Joonghyun looked around the living room, he noticed a distinct scent in the air - a calming blend of lavender and the earthy aroma of books, the same one that had been emanating off Dokja in the hospital the other day. The scent of books was rather unsurprising, considering the many volumes of books lining the built-in shelves of the living room.

Joonghyun found the combination of scents to be quite pleasant. It was comforting to be in a place that so clearly belonged to Dokja.

"Make yourself at home, Joonghyun-ah," Dokja said, clapping his hands together as he dragged Joonghyun upstairs. Dokja opened a door, and Joonghyun found himself looking into his bedroom for the foreseeable future.

The room had a bed, two nightstands on either side of it, and a wardrobe in the corner, all of them having wooden frames. Soft pillows and blankets decorated the bed, and the large window to the side of the bed was framed with two long curtains. Overall, the room was white and beige with accents of a grayish blue color. Potted plants and a lamp stood in the corner of the room, and incense was sitting on the nightstand. A small bookshelf stood against the room’s wall, its shelves overflowing with books. It seemed that Dokja used this room as a sort of repository for the books he couldn’t find a place for anywhere else. Joonghyun also noticed another door, which he assumed led to the bathroom. With how untouched the room was, it was obvious that it hadn’t been used in a long time. But it still had a had a cozy, personal feel to it, reflecting Dokja's own style.

"This is now your room, for now. I hope you like it," Dokja continued, scratching the back of his neck. "I didn't know what kind of room you would’ve preferred, so I hope this looks fine to you."

Joonghyun took a moment to fully take in the room. While it may not have been an exact match to Joonghyun’s personal tastes, he could appreciate the thought and care Dokja had put into preparing this for him.

"It's perfect," Joonghyun replied, turning to Dokja with a small smile. "Thank you for your hospitality. I appreciate you opening your home to me." Dokja visibly relaxed, relieved that Joonghyun seemed satisfied with the accommodations. "I'm glad you feel comfortable here. Please, make yourself at home."

"I will."

Meanwhile, sitting in his private office on the highest floor of the skyscraper, the chairman - Joonghyuk's grandfather - sat at a large desk, poring over a stack of paperwork. The door to the office suddenly opened, and Hyunsung strode in.

Stopping in front of the table, he bowed to the chairman and awaited permission to speak. The chairman paid him not mind, opting instead to finish looking over whatever document he was currently reading. Eventually, after confirming that the details of the report were acceptable, the chairman spoke.

"Are there any leads on the whereabouts of my grandson?" he demanded, his eyes still fixed on the papers in front of him. Hyunsung hesitated briefly before responding. "I'm afraid not, sir. Our search efforts have turned up nothing so far. Joonghyuk has simply vanished without a trace."

The chairman's brow furrowed as he finally lifted his gaze to meet Hyunsung's. "That is unacceptable," he said sharply. "This company needs him; I will not tolerate his absence any longer. You and your team shall redouble your efforts immediately. I want results, do you understand?"

Hyunsung nodded solemnly. "Yes, sir. We are doing everything in our power to locate him. But..." He swallowed hard, knowing the chairman would not want to hear this. "But … we also need to consider the possibility that he’s already dead, or that he’s been kidnapped by another organization, sir."

The chairman's face darkened, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the edge of the desk. "Dead?" he spat. "Kidnapped?" His voice rose with barely contained fury. "I will not entertain such possibilities, Lee Hyunsung. My grandson is the rightful heir to this organization. He cannot simply disappear."

He leaned forward, pinning Hyunsung with a piercing glare. "You will find him, do you understand? Use every resource at your disposal. Mobilize the entire organization if you must. I want results, and I want them now. Our plans rest on Joonghyuk’s life, and I will not allow anything to jeopardize the future of this company."

Hyunsung bowed his head, feeling the weight of the chairman's demands. "I understand, sir. We will not rest until Joonghyuk-nim is found, alive and well. I give you my word."

"See that you don't, Hyunsung. For your sake, and for the sake of this family, you had better succeed."

"Father, you should contain your emotions, you know it's bad for your health…" a feminine voice suddenly interjected.

Both the chairman and Hyunsung turned their attention to the woman who walked through the office doors. Hyunsung bowed respectfully as she approached, but the woman did not acknowledge him.

"Getting worked up like this will only exacerbate your condition."

The chairman's expression softened slightly as he looked up at the woman. "Min-ji," he said, some of the edge leaving his voice. "I cannot be calm when my own flesh and blood has vanished without a trace."

Min-ji came to stand beside the chairman's desk, placing a calming hand on his arm. "I understand your concern, Father. But you know as well as I do that losing your composure will not help us find Joonghyuk any faster." She paused, her gaze briefly flickering towards Hyunsung before returning to the chairman. "We must approach this rationally and strategically."

The chairman let out a heavy sigh, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "You're right, of course." He glanced at Hyunsung. "See to it that every possible avenue is explored. I want regular updates on the progress of the search."

Hyunsung bowed again. "Yes, sir. I will personally oversee the investigation and ensure you are kept informed." With that, he turned and quickly exited the office, leaving the chairman and his daughter alone.

"What are you doing here, Yoo Minji?"

She met the chairman's gaze evenly. "I'm here because I'm concerned about you, Father. And about Joonghyuk."

The chairman let out a heavy sigh. "I don't need your concern, Minji. I need results. Hyunsung and his team are doing everything they can to locate my grandson."

"I'm aware of that. But you know as well as I do that Joonghyuk is more than capable enough of taking care of himself. If he doesn't want to be found, it may prove extremely difficult to track him down."

The chairman's eyes narrowed. "Are you suggesting I give up on him?"

"Not at all," Minji replied calmly. "I'm simply urging you to keep an open mind and consider all possibilities. Joonghyuk's disappearance may not be as straightforward as it seems."

The chairman leaned back in his chair, studying Minji intently. "And what exactly are you implying, Minji?"

Minji held the chairman's gaze steadily. "I'm not implying anything, Father. I'm merely suggesting that we approach this situation with a clear head. Joonghyuk's safety is our top priority, but we mustn't let our emotions cloud our judgment."

The chairman was silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nodded slowly. "Very well, Minji. I will heed your advice. But make no mistake - I will not rest until my grandson is found, safe and sound."

"I understand, Father. And I will do everything in my power to assist in the search. The chairman's gaze softened slightly.

"Thank you, Minji. I appreciate your concern, even if I don't always show it."

Minji offered him a small smile. “I know, Father. I know.” As she spoke, Minji’s gaze drifted towards the window, her eyes taking in the sprawling cityscape beyond. For a moment, the hint of a smile played on her lips, but then it slowly faded, replaced by an unreadable expression.

Chapter Text

Chapter 7: Meeting Each Other

Heavy morning fog had already begun dissipating into a thin mist, the sun’s orange light burning through its wispy edges as it steadily rose. The city had long begun to wake up again after its lazy morning start, households reluctant to abandon the comfort of their beds for the busy day to come. Nevertheless, people had things to do, jobs to travel to, schools to attend, chores to take care of. By the time the morning dew had evaporated away, children were walking down the street to their respective schools, accompanied by overbearing parents bidding them goodbye. At the same time, roads, bus stops, and subways were filled with heavy traffic as the adults started heading to their workplaces, preparing to open shops or do whatever assignment their employers demanded of them on this particular day. Birds chirped above then as they flew from tree to tree, blissfully separated from the hectic lives that the humans below them led.

In the midst of the morning bustle, some of the neighborhood’s residents were outside, tending to their lawns and small gardens. The sleek, tinted black car that slowly pulled up to one of the houses was a familiar sight to the neighborhood already. The particular house that it parked in front of was a frequent topic of gossip.

Honestly there was nothing wrong with the house owner, he was a reserved but kind individual that kept to himself most times. However, upon the initial purchase of the home, a couple that everyone was sure was the homeowner’s parents had gone around the neighborhood and given everyone exuberant welcome gifts.

Which it itself would’ve been quite pleasant, if the two hadn’t been accompanied by muscled up bodyguards and plainly threatened to ‘remove’ anyone that made their son feel anything less than welcome and comfortable. The recent sight of faded but dried up blood in front of the house didn’t help the speculations. While the neighbors were glad that the son turned out to be a rather introverted man rather than the rambunctious mobster they’d initially expected him to be, they still refrained from approaching him anymore than necessary.

No one was particularly close to him, nor had anyone made any attempts to change that. Given that the owner tended to keep to himself, often secluding himself within the confines of his home, it was an arrangement that worked for everybody.

The door of the car swung open and a man emerged, characterized by his striking white hair and piercing red eyes. Tall and handsome, his pallid complexion accentuated his features. Though his handsome features were somewhat betrayed by the fact that he was struggling to carry an armful of shopping bags, the logos on said bags indicating a high-end clothing brand. He cursed under his breath as he stumbled out of his car, frazzled. With his hands full, he had to kick his car door shut, using way too much force to let out his frustration.

He would really prefer to be doing something else right now. Usually, his supposed young master and friend wouldn’t make such strange demands like this, more often giving him small menial tasks like picking up food or running a message to his parents. That is, if he even asked for help at all. How strange of his young master to buy from such an expensive brand, even demanding sizes that were blatantly larger than his proportions.

Maybe these were a gift for somebody… but then, why so many clothes? Well, whatever the answer, it wasn’t his business to poke in. All he needed to do was drop off the bags and then head to the UW Corporation to take care of his work responsibilities.

Struggling over to the front door with the mountain of clothes in his arms, he tried his best to straighten out his suit before pressing the doorbell, his irritability plainly written on his face. The chime resonated faintly from inside the house. Despite that, no one came to answer the door, testing his patience. With his foot tapping in frustration, he tried the doorbell once more, only to receive the same response as before. Not bothering with manners anymore, he repeatedly pressed the button in quick succession until, finally, the door swung open. His attention shifted to the figure before him,

"FINALLY! DO YOU KNOW HOW M—" but his words trail off as he realized that the person who opened the door was not, in fact, Kim Dokja. Instead, it was a man of considerable height, though not excessively so, and broad shoulders. Too buff to be his young master. In contrast to his manly appearance was the light pink apron he was donning, and the square piece of cloth tied around his head, making him look some sort of housewife.

Blinking at him, Bihyung quickly looked to the side at the house’s number plate. Nope, he didn’t get to the wrong address, so who the hell was this guy?

"Who the hell are you, what’d you do to the guy that lives here?" He made his thoughts known immediately.

The man before him merely raised an eyebrow at him, assessing Bihyung’s continual struggle to hold up the bags with nonchalance, "I should be the one asking that. Who are you, what do you want with Dokja?"

Bihyung scrutinized the man from head to toe, a clear air of suspicion surrounding him. His doubts surged, especially since he was well aware that Dokja was not one to extend invitations to his home. Dokja had always been adamant about avoiding overnight stays or any form of prolonged visitation, even from his closest friends and family. There were even times when Dokja found it hard just to be around Persephone and Sooyoung. Though the two were omega and beta respectively, the pheromones of their alpha partners would occasionally have a negative effect on him.

Thankfully, no one took it personally.

With narrowed eyes, Bihyung continued interrogating the man before him, "Bihyung, I’m running a chore for Dokja... now answer my question, before I call the police on you."

The man facing him returned the scrutiny, eyeing him up and down with the same judgment Bihyung was giving him. After a moment, the man stated simply.

"Joonghyun."

Bihyung's skepticism of the man on deepened. He’d never heard Kim Dokja mention anyone by that name being so closely associated to him. Peeking inside the house past Joonghyun, he found the rooms absent of any other life.

"Where’s Dokja, and what are you doing inside of his house?"

Joonghyun followed his line of sight, adjusting his body in the doorway to block most of Bihyung’s view. “Sleeping. Also, I live here, just moved in."

Bihyung's eyes widen to the size of plates. "Excuse me?" Surely, he misheard Joonghyun. Dokja would never allow someone to reside with him, especially this alpha-like man. From where he stood, Bihyung could smell the cedarwood and black vanilla of the pheromones he was exuding. Dokja was always uncomfortable around alphas, so why’d he allow the most alpha looking alpha to even be in the same vicinity as him?

Bihyung stared at Joonghyun in utter disbelief, about to voice his incredulity when someone else interrupted him, "Oh, you're finally here, Bihyung. You can let him in, Joonghyun, his arms look like they’re gonna fall off any moment now." Bihyung’s attention shifted towards the voice, only to see Dokja languidly descending the stairs, rubbing his eyes sleepily. His attire was sparse, only clad in shorts and an oversized t-shirt that slipped off his shoulder, exposing a good portion of his collar area.

Not even his scent glands were covered! Bihyung was perplexed, questioning if Dokja was naive or just plain indifferent, considering the man he was supposedly sharing his home with. It was certainly a departure from the Dokja he knew until now.

Feeling the load in his arms lighten a little bit, Bihyung snapped out of his thoughts to notice that Joonghyun had taken some of the bags he was carrying, giving him a brief bored glance before moving out of the doorway to let him enter. Eager to finally give his arms a rest, Bihyung stepped onto the wooden floors of the house, his dress shoes clacking against the wood with each step. After closing the door behind Bihyung, Dokja led the two to the living room, telling them to set the bags down on the coffee table in front of the couches.

Dokja approached him, glancing at the bags on the table with an appreciative smile. "Thanks, you’re as reliable as always, Bihyung," Dokja expressed his gratitude, though his hosting etiquette didn’t even last past that sentence. "Now, I know you still have work to do, you can take your leave," he promptly instructed.

Unfazed by Dokja's usual dismissive behavior, Bihyung grabbed his wrist just as he was turning to Joonghyun.
"I need to talk to you," he said, not bothering to wait for a response before leading Dokja deeper into the house, into Dokja’s small office room.

Looking outside to see if they were out of earshot from Joonghyuk, Bihyung closed the office’s glass paneled door before releasing Dokja's wrist. "What was that?!" he demanded, whisper-yelling in frustration.

Dokja scrunched his face in confusion, "What do you mean, what was that?"

Bihyung waved his arms vaguely towards the living room, "That! Why’s some guy claiming to live here?!"

Dokja blinked a few times before clarifying, "Ah, right! I found him bleeding in front of my house and rushed him to the hospital. Apparently, the injuries he sustained made him lose his memories, so I’m the only one who can take care of him for now. He's my responsibility, so he’ll be living here for the time being."

Bihyung gaped at Dokja in disbelief, unable to comprehend the situation. "What the hell? Can't the authorities do something about him? Why are you the one to do this?" he questioned.

Dokja let out a sigh, "I was the one who found him, and the only person that visited him when he was hospitalized, so naturally I want to see him get better."

Bihyung pinched the bridge of his nose, exasperated. "Oh my god, Kim Dokja... you let a stranger into your house without knowing anything about him?" he could already feel a migraine coming on. He’d bet a million dollars that this guy hadn’t even told his parents that this was happening. Oh god, how would they react to this?

"I don't see the problem here, Bihyung..."

"You may not see the problem, but I do! You have no idea who he is and what he’s capable of! Have you even considered what you’re going to do if you go into heat, or if he goes into a rut?"

As always, his young master considered everything but his own safety. Dokja just brushed off his concern with a shrug.

"Ugh, you’re just as dramatic as Sooyoung. It's not a big deal; I'm just helping someone. And with the whole heat and rut stuff, don’t worry, I’ll take the precautions I need to when the time comes."

Doubtful eyes meet Dokja’s.
"You know your parents wouldn’t approve, especially with an alpha involved... we know that you—"

"I know, Bihyung... I know," Dokja cut him off, shuffling his feet as he looked off to the side in discomfort. "It's just that... don't worry, I know what I’m doing," Dokja tried to give him a reassuring smile, but it was wobbly and strained.

Bihyung gazed at Dokja before letting out an exhale. He looked away momentarily, searching for the right words to say before turning back to Dokja, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Fine... do as you wish. I won't say anything to your parents," Bihyung relented. But he then added, "But if anything goes wrong, call me or Sooyoung, okay? Even that Sangah girl if you have to."

Dokja smiled at that. "Of course I will. Thank you, Bihyung"

Bihyung returned Dokja’s smile, but the loud ring of his phone interrupted the moment they were having. With an annoyed click of his tongue, he swiftly retrieved his phone from his pocket and checked the caller ID, his nose wrinkling at whatever he saw. Leaning forward to get a peek at what caused such a reaction from him, Dokja made out the word "Rascal," flashing on Bihyung’s phone screen.

"Hm? Who is that?"

Rolling his eyes, Bihyung’s response was short, "An annoyance."

"Anyways, it’s probably work related, so I’ll have to take my leave for now."

Dokja, still curious about who the caller was, nodded in acknowledgment as he saw Bihyung out to the front door. Making their way past the living room, Joonghyun was nowhere in sight, but they could hear some clanging coming from the kitchen.

"Thanks again for getting the clothes, good luck with whatever work you have," Dokja waved at Bihyung as he made his way down the lawn to his car, closing the door behind him before proceeding towards the kitchen.

Dokja stepped into the kitchen and was met with the sight of Joonghyun engrossed in cooking, his back facing him. He hadn’t noticed it through his sleepiness earlier, but Joonghyun decided to wear the light pink apron that had been collecting dust in his kitchen for the longest time. It’d been a gift from Sooyoung and Sangah.

The former giving it for the shits and giggles, the latter genuinely wanting to encourage him to cook more. He had to withhold the soft giggle that threatened to escape his lips when he saw it had become a part of Joonghyun’s attire for the day, though a faint smile still appeared on his lips.

Going over to sit down at the stool at the countertop, Dokja watched on as something sizzled away on the pan. The rhythmic movements of Joonghyun's hands, the defined arc of his muscles, and the broadness of his shoulders all draw Dokja's attention. In the quiet of the kitchen, Dokja found himself mesmerized by Joonghyun, unable to look away. Every time he moved his arm to adjust the pan or to use the spatula in his grip, Dokja carefully ran his eyes down his arms, watching the way each individual muscle flexed as he did so.

Joonghyun set down the spatula to reach towards one of the cabinets above stove, pulling out two bowls. His hands made them look tiny. Dokja noticed how long his fingers were, each one having little scars littered all over them. Joonghyun hands would engulf his own for sure. He cast a quick glance down to his own waist. Yep, those hands would probably be able to wrap around a good portion of his waist too. Dokja’s mind wondered to what kind of job Joonghyun could’ve had previously. With how muscled up he was, he could easily be a construction worker. It’d explain all the marks on his hands.

Though, he could also imagine Joonghyun as a bodyguard. A crisp suit and some black sunglasses easily matched his aesthetic. Bonus points if his hair was slicked back. Though, the wavy hair style he was sporting right now was also pretty cute…

His line of thought coming to a screeching halt, Dokja tore his eyes off of Joonghyun’s figure. He placed a hand over his cheek, feeling the heat of the slight flush of embarrassment that was spreading over his cheeks. Dokja always prided himself on not feeding into those demeaning stereotypes of omegas, never casting a second glance to alphas that he crossed paths with. But now here he was, having such thoughts about the one in front of him. Joonghyun was someone he was supposed to be assisting, and such thoughts are inappropriate. Dokja slightly shook his head to dispel the unwelcome thoughts.

"Is something wrong?" Joonghyun's voice broke the Dokja’s self-chastisement. Dokja flinched a bit, flustered at being caught red-handed as he was ogling at the man.

"Ah, it’s nothing! I was just thinking of how excited I am to try your cooking!" Dokja stammered out, waving his hands to try to dismiss Joonghyun’s prying. Joonghyun regarded Dokja for a bit, an unreadable look on his face, before returning his attention to his task at hand.
Fanning his face to let the residual warmth fade away, Dokja approached Joonghyun, though gave him some space as to not impede his cooking. Leaning to the side to get a peek at the pan, Dokja asked him, "What’s on the menu for today?”

"Kimchi fried rice. It's the only thing I found in your refrigerator." Joonghyuk didn’t turn back to answer him, continuing to fold the rice and kimchi into each other on the pan.

Dokja hummed in acknowledgment, continuing to observe the dish being prepared. If Joonghyun were aware of Dokja's usual habits, he might be surprised to find anything in the refrigerator at all. Dokja typically opted for store-bought meals or convenience store food because of his usually busy schedule. The kimchi was yet another gift from Yoo Sangah, something that occasionally found its way into Dokja's refrigerator.

Though they worked at the same office, Sangah dedicated much more time to her life outside of work, having a multitude of different hobbies and interests that she kept up with. Of course cooking was one of them, though she was probably also encouraged to practice now that she was also feeding Sooyoung.

"Oh, and I noticed a lot of cup noodle boxes stored in the cabinets here," Joonghyun added on, gesturing over at the pantry over his shoulder, "Eating too much of those isn’t healthy for you. You should consider purchasing more fresh ingredients if you can," he suggested.

Dokja chuckled lightly. This wasn’t the first time he had heard those words, and it probably wouldn’t be that last.

"They’ll end up rotting if I do, I don’t cook for myself much."

Joonghyun turns his gaze towards Dokja, nonchalant as he scanned Dokja’s body up and down, "Food is meant to be eaten, not left to rot..." He looked back down at the stove, "No wonder you're so thin."

"Hey! What are you trying to imply by that?"

"I'm simply stating a fact." He proceeded to pick up one of the bowls he set aside and scoop a good portion of steaming rice into it. After grabbing a spoon from the silverware drawer, he set them down on the countertop in front of one of the stools. "Now, eat," Joonghyun instructed as he proceeded to settle in the stool next to it with his own bowl and spoon. The headcloth and apron had been set aside, hung back on the hooks on the wall. Disgruntled that he wasn’t able to get a retort in, Dokja followed suit and sat down. Though his grumpy mood didn’t last long when he got a sniff of the delicious aroma coming off the rice.

He eagerly scooped up a portion of the food, making sure to get a good amount of both the rice and kimchi before stuffing it into his mouth. The rice was warm and fluffy, cooked to perfection. And of course, the kimchi itself was delicious, its tanginess going perfectly with the fainter taste of the rice. Sangah had always been able to get the spiciness just right, somehow. It’d been a while since Dokja had last been able savor a nice classic homemade meal, but each time he did he felt that everyone’s constant nagging for him to cook for himself more was just a bit more justified.

As soon as the first bite was gone, he was stuffing his mouth with additional spoonfuls, each one even better than the last.

"This is absolutely delicious, Joonghyun!" Dokja exclaimed, unable to contain his praise as he continues to indulge in the meal. Cooking was one of the last things Dokja would’ve guessed Joonghyuk would excel at, defying any preconceived notions Dokja may have had about him.

A smile played on Joonghyun's lips as he observed Dokja savoring the meal with delight. "I'm glad," he expressed genuinely. When Bihyung and Dokja had gone off to talk earlier, Joonghyun had went to explore the house, wanting to give the two some privacy since he was very clearly not meant to hear whatever they had to talk about.

Though, he didn’t need to walk that far to find himself in the kitchen. Despite his lost memories, Joonghyun found himself drawn to the area, rifling through drawers, cabinets, the pantry, and fridge with the intent to cook something up for Dokja to eat. Even if it was small, it’d be able to pay back a small part of what he owed the man for taking him under his care. While cooking, it was almost like the motions came to him naturally, like he was working on instinct.

Though he felt anxious when handing the food over to Dokja, seeing him enjoy the meal filled Joonghyun with joy. The pleasant aroma of Dokja’s pheromones enveloped the kitchen, Dokja not bothering to reign it in as he was too busy enjoying the food. Joonghyun couldn't help but indulge himself in the delightful fragrance, taking in slow and controlled lungfuls of it as he started working on his own bowl.

After the two finished their meal in amicable silence, Dokja took on the task of washing the dishes in consideration of how Joonghyun had prepared the meal. As he hummed a tune while to himself, Joonghyun's voice broke the peaceful ambiance.

"Kim Dokja."

“Hmm?”

Beside him Joonghyun, leaning against the counter with his arms crossed, nodded towards the bags of clothes on the living room table."What did that guy from earlier want, was he your boyfriend or something?"

Dokja wrinkled his nose, looking like he ate something sour. "Of course not! He’s more of a family friend, I guess. Oh, and those are for you," he explained, then shifted his attention back to the dishes he was washing. "Figured it’d be better to get you some now, rather than having to keep digging though my wardrobe for oversized clothes for you," he added. He gave a pointed look at the shirt Joonghyun was wearing right now. Even though it was oversized on Dokja, on Joonghyun it could barely contain his muscles, for better or worse for Dokja.

"Why?"

At Dokja’s questioning glance, Joonghyun elaborated. "You didn't have to do that, you know?" he clarified. “Now that we’re on the topic, please give me the receipts to any of the groceries, clothes, or other accommodations you have to pay on my behalf. I can take a job to pay off the expenses while I’m here. And when I get back my memories, I’ll pay you back in full if I haven’t already done so by then.”

Dokja offered him a warm but exasperated smile before finishing loading the dishes into the drying rack. Drying his hands on a cloth, he turned his body to fully face Joonghyun, "Why all the trouble? It's not a big deal. I just want to make sure you have the best environment you can for your recovery. I have the money, and you're under my care,” more like he had a black card from his step-parents, but still. Honestly, he tries his best to avoid using his parents’ money when he can, even though the amount they have could support him for the rest of his life. He already feels undeserving of all the care they’ve given him up to this point, and he can’t even do anything to pay them back for their help. But he feels like just this one time it would be too bad to use his allowance.

Meanwhile Joonghyun couldn’t get a grip on Dokja’s intentions. While the lonely and confusing days at the hospital had already softened up Joonghyun’s attitude towards Dokja, he promised himself that he wouldn’t completely let his guard down when moving into Dokja’s home. Of course he felt thankful to him for basically saving his life, but the situation had changed drastically. Lives were no longer in danger, and he was now in Dokja’s private space with almost no one else to rely on. He couldn’t let himself blindly trust a stranger, no matter how gentle they seemed to be.

Despite that, Joonghyun could already feel his walls cracking, truly grateful for Dokja's assistance. He practically heard another giant fissure forming when Dokja softly took his hand and led him to the living room, suggesting that he try on the clothes, “C’mon, I just told Bihyung to get you some pajamas and day to day clothes, nothing too fancy. If you want, we can go out later to get some more clothes more fitting to your personal tastes.”

With that smile on his face, Dokja's genuine kindness touched Joonghyun's heart. He knows for a fact that no matter what memories he may have previously held, Dokja’s smile would shine the brightest amongst them all. When the time came that he does get them back, he resolved to repay for all the care he received from Dokja. Yielding to Dokja's invitation, Joonghyun could do nothing but let himself be pulled along.

Opening the car door, Bihyung settled into the driver's seat, glancing at his phone which continued to ring persistently. With a sigh, he tapped on the accept button and brought the phone to his ear. A woman's voice greeted him enthusiastically, exclaiming, "HELLO, MY DEAR FRIE—!"

"Cut the crap. What do you need?"

An exaggerated gasp from the line, offended by Bihyung curtness "Goodness gracious!" a female’s voice exclaimed, "I can't believe you! Is it a crime to call your best friend now?"

Bihyung's eyes narrowed, his patience wearing thin. The sound of the woman's voice grated on his nerves, intensifying his frustration. "We're not best friends, I’m your manager. I’m not even supposed to be here for god’s sake!". With a death grip on the steering wheel, Bihyung let his forehead rest on its top with a thumb. The weight of the day's events seemed to compound in that moment, aggravating enough to make him want to scream.

"Yeah, yeah, keep telling yourself that!" she retorted dismissively. Bihyung could almost picture her rolling her eyes at him. She was the only reason why he was in this position right now!.

Swallowing back a scream, Bihyung cut back to the original purpose of the call. "Just tell me what you need to. I have a job to go to."

There was a brief pause before the girl responded, "Yeah yeah, fine. Just give me the latest update on the situation in Korea."

Bihyung sighed, somehow already tired to his bones. Still, he leaned back in his chair as he recounted, "I was just at Dokja's place a moment ago, bought clothes for Joonghyuk."

Over the lone, the girl hummed, the sound of shuffling and writing audible form somewhere in the background. "Right, so somewhere around the beginning... From what I've written, the two of them should already be starting to feel comfortable around each other at least, with a little bit of attraction thrown in."

" Maxine, do I really need to—"

"Nah, tsk, tsk," she clicked her tongue disapprovingly, the shuffling sound pausing. "C’mon Bihyung, can’t you at least remember my new name?"

"Duh, I'm the one who chose it this time around."

"Then why aren't you using it? Don’t go around breaking the narrative," she reminded him.
Bihyung rolled his eyes in response, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Sure, Kaori... happy now?"

"Mhm..." she murmured. With her voice significantly quieter than before, some more of the background noise reached her phone. It sounded like she was in an office, the clinking of keyboards and hurried footsteps alike coming from behind her. If you listened carefully, you could even hear a printer or two.

"And what's going on over there in Japan? Anything noteworthy?"

She paused for a moment before sharing, "Not much happening here, except for dealing with the actress I'm currently managing. She's really a handful!" Bihyung could hear the pout in her tone, but a chuckle followed. "On the bright side, she’s pretty self-absorbed and single minded. It won’t be too hard to make her self-destruct her own career," she added, her chuckle turning into a devious snicker.

"Yeah, sure, whatever you say," Bihyung responded wearily, his tone reflecting his boredom as he let out a sigh. “Just don’t take too long on her, even if she is an antagonist over there, she’s not the one for AR. So hurry up, I don’t wanna keep doing your job for you.”
Kaori bulldozed past his complaints. It was like she didn’t even hear him.

"Hey, did you know that my other story is set here too—" another voice cut in sharply, demanding, "Suzuki, where's my coffee!" Bihyung bolted up in recognition, connecting the voice to the actress Kaori had been discussing. "Oh, damn it, I have to go now. Bye!" Kaori hastily declared before abruptly ending the call. Bihyung found himself staring at his phone, a mix of surprise and amusement crossing his features. Shaking his head slightly, he gathered his thoughts and resolved to head to work, the unexpected interruption lingering in his mind

Chapter Text

Chapter 8: Encounter

With a soft ‘ding’, the elevator doors opened to the Minosoft office’s ninth floor. As Dokja stepped out to head to his desk, he was greeted by Sangah’s warm smile. For how early in the morning it was, she was unusually energetic and cheery, as usual.
"Good morning, Dokja-ssi!" Sangah welcomed amicably. Returning the greeting, Dokja tried swallowing his yawn as they strolled towards their workplace. Glancing at him, Sangah hesitated before asking, "By the way, what happened to that new roommate of yours?" She spoke carefully, not wanting to come across as pushy as Sooyoung had, but still unable to hold back her curiosity.

"Joonghyun... that's what I call him," Dokja supplied.

Sangah nodded, a flash of recognition sparking in her eyes. "Hmm? The same name as the character Sooyoung—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Dokja swiftly placed a hand over her mouth. Under his palm he could feel Sangah’s smile widening, the corner of her eyes crinkling. With a groan, he muttered, "I know, Sangah-ssi... I know. Please don't rub it in my face."

In one of Han Sooyoung's more recent novels, Joonghyun was a man tormented by his past, leading him down a dark path into the belly of the criminal underworld. But upon meeting his love interest and subsequently dragging them into his bloodstained life, Joonghyun committed a series of misdeeds all to make sure he and his lover could live the perfect life together in the end. Impossibly handsome and morally questionable at best, he was the exact type of character that would appeal to Dokja.

Dokja sometimes questioned if Sooyoung only wrote Joonghyun like that so that she could laugh his inevitable infatuation for the character. Sangah gently removed Dokja's hand from her mouth. "Alright then... Joonghyun it is," she affirmed, not before casting one last mischievous glance at Dokja.

"Sangah-ssi, please... she won’t ever let this go if she knows about it," Dokja pleaded.

"She'll find out eventually, she's going to want to meet him herself. And that goes for me too," Sangah pointed out.

"Don’t tell me you’re just going to tell her anyway," he suggested, narrowing his eyes at her with a pout.

Sangah chuckled, putting a hand over her heart, "Don't worry, I won't," she promised earnestly as she glanced at their other coworkers making their way through the office halls. Returning to the original topic, she questioned further, "So, what's the latest with Joonghyun? Has he already moved into your house?"

Dokja nodded affirmatively, confirming, "Yes, he did. I got his room and clothing sorted out. For some reason he’s super into doing housework. His cooking is great, and he even promised to clean the house while I’m gone."

Sangah looking around to see that they were in a relatively empty section of the office, she cast a cautious sidelong glance at him, "Well, he does sound like a decent person. But please don’t forget, Dokja-sii, if he does anythi—"

Dokja abruptly halted in his tracks, causing Sangah to stop as well. Their eyes met, conveying a shared understanding as they both assumed serious expressions. "Sangah-ssi, it’s done and over with. I’m fine, I promise. Besides..." Dokja trailed off, his gaze shifting downward.

Sangah placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, prompting him to meet her gaze. With a mix of worry and concern, she acknowledged, "I know... I know. But I can sense that you're still uncomfortable around alphas. I know you think all of us can be overbearing, and I know that we are sometimes. But we just want you to be as safe as possible." When it came to anyone outside of Dokja’s tightknit inner circle, he was known to curl into his own mind, overthinking about everything while not trusting anyone’s words at face value. It was because of this that it took Sangah five months to break through his shell and befriend him. Only last year did she uncover the reason behind his emotional distance, particularly towards alphas. The revelation shook her to her core, and only then did she understand the level of protectiveness that Sooyoung, Hades, and Persephone held toward him.

"Thank you, Sangah-ssi, I really do appreciate it." Despite knowing the cause of it, Dokja couldn't completely wrap his head around how invested his friends were in his well-being. While he couldn't fully grasp their concerns, he found solace in their unwavering support. Deep down, he also questioned his own decision to agree to sponsor Joonghyun’s recovery, but he had already accepted it. He wanted to see this to the end.

Sangah stared at Dokja intently, emphasizing, "Just remember, if anything— and I mean anything— happens, you just let us know. Understood?"

Dokja nodded firmly, assuring her, "Of course."

"Sangah-ssi? Dokja-ssi?" The familiar voice calling their names caused both Sangah and Dokja to jump, the imaginary privacy bubble around them popping. They turned to see Jiwon, with headphones snugly in place and a steaming coffee mug in hand, her head tilted as she regarded them curiously. "What are you two whispering about so sneakily over there?"

Sangah and Dokja exchanged a quick glance before sharing a smile. "Nothing much, Jiwon-ssi, Sangah-ssi was just catching me up on the days I missed," Dokja replied.

Jiwon stared them for a moment longer before shrugging it off. "Well, just make sure the team manager doesn't catch you. You know what he's like, especially today," she warned.

"Hm? What do you mean?"

Dokja's puzzled expression prompted Sangah to clarify. "Oh, I was just going to tell you! For the past few days representatives and executives from Murim Company have been having meetings here with our people. It was finally officially announced that we’d be having a business collaboration with them,” she recalled, recounting the department meeting that had transpired the other day.

Something about that name peaked Dokja’s interest. "Murim Company…Isn’t that one of the largest conglomerates nationally or something?"

Minosoft was a commonplace but long-standing software development company, so it’d seen a wide range of clients and companies big and small. But to be in direct collaboration with a conglomerate as prevalent as Murim Company was a first. The conglomerate’s success was said to originate from the strategic maneuvering of its leader, choosing only the best and most versatile firms and companies to take under their care, not stretching themselves out thin but still having a multitude of strongholds in a wide spread of industries.

Sangah and Jiwon nodded in agreement as they resumed walking. "Yep, that’s the one. In fact, there have been rumors circulating about a new company head taking over the reins pretty soon. It was a pretty unexpected move, considering their current executive chairman’s long tenure," Sangah added.

Jiwon, placing her cup on the workplace table, shrugged. "No one knows for sure, but based on the rumors, it's speculated to be the chairman's grandson, who currently holds a position as a director," she shared. Frowning slightly, she tried to recall their name. "I can't quite remember who he was... Maybe Jin- or Jun- something," she mused. Before she could think any more on it, a loud cheer came from her headphones. In her other hand, her phone lit up brightly.

“Jiwon-ssi, if you listen to headphones that loudly it might damage your ears, especially since you’ve been wearing them so much lately…” As if to emphasize Sangah’s point, the three of them heard another loud cheer from her headphones.

Jiwon beamed at them before eagerly sharing, "There’s no need to worry about that Sangah-ssi! After all—" She swiftly lifted her phone and thrust it in front of their faces, displaying the screen. "I'm listening to one of my all-time favorite singers!" she exclaimed. As they tried to focus on the screen, she swiftly swiped, revealing a fan cam of a concert with a multitude of people shouting hysterically in the audience. The center of attention seemed to be a figure with brightly colored hair, although the exact hue remained obscured by the lighting. Jiwon pulled back her hand, expression full of adoration, "I absolutely adore him! I'd give my heart and soul for him!" Her giggles filled the air as she continued to gush about her new obsession.

Amidst Jiwon’s raving, a silent glance between Dokja and Sangah was all that was shared before they both opted for a discreet exit, the two of them quietly making their way to their respective desks, lest they get dragged into their coworker’s fixation for the next few hours.

The wood of Dokja’s desk was barely visible, instead covered by a piles of paperwork that’d been left for him to address. Numerous files awaited his attention, demanding meticulous analysis and correction.

Hunkering down, Dokja prepared himself to tune out everything outside of his work for the next few hours, rooting himself to his seat to tackle the tasks at hand and be done by the end of the day. Only an hour in and anyone could tell that he’d already been fully engrossed in the sea of documents that surrounded him. Mechanically parsing through all the papers and typing out reports onto his computer, the rest of the office had already fallen to the back of his mind. The same could be said about the dull ache in his neck and back, a constant presence after so many years of sitting hunched over his desk.

Lunchtime had come and gone without his notice, with Sangah coming by to discreetly place a stack of sandwiches on his desk, giving a gentle reminder to get some energy into his body. As he continued to toil away, he took a few sparing bites out of one, the rest to be eaten through the day or brought home for dinner.

As the clock hit two in the afternoon, the continual drone of activity in the office was cut off as the door swung open with gusto, heralding the arrival of the Minosoft CEO himself accompanied by another man. Instantly, the room fell into a respectful hush as everyone stood up, offering greetings and acknowledgments to the esteemed visitor.

Everyone except for Dokja that was, not at all paying attention, his eyes stuck to his computer screen. Whatever words were spoken washed over him; the details lost in his single-minded focus. At least that was the case until a coworker beside Dokja tapped his shoulder to get his attention. At Dokja’s questioning eyebrow, they just jerked their chin towards the CEO, urging him to at least look like he was listening to the CEO’s words, lest his pay get docked for disrespect.

With a small nod of thanks to his coworker, Dokja glanced up and to see a man who looked to be in his thirties standing next to the CEO. The man possessed a striking appearance, fluffy black hair to match his intense dark eyes, and impeccable facial features. Standing tall with broad shoulders and clad in a sleek black suit, he exuded an aura of confidence.

Lost in his observation, Dokja wasn’t prepared for his stare to be returned, the man's attention shifting towards him. Startled by the direct eye contact, Dokja's quickly averting his gaze, instead dragging his eyes to land on the department leaders enthusiastically welcoming the CEO and the accompanying stranger. Unbeknownst to Dokja, the man's unwavering stare persisted, his raised eyebrow a silent challenge that went unnoticed by Dokja.

"Director Yoo?" The man snapped back to reality when the CEO addressed him. "Is there perhaps something about the department that isn’t up to the Murim Company's standards?" he asked sheepishly, starkly aware of the influence the man before him held as one of the directors of one of the largest companies nationally.

Not bothering to look back at the CEO, the director swept his eyes over the office before giving him a response. "…No, this will do. You mentioned there would be other departments we’d be collaborating with, correct?"

The CEO's face lit up with a smile of relief. "Ah, yes... I'll lead the way," he replied eagerly. The CEO and director proceeded to walk off, the former thanking the workers for their time and wishing everyone good luck for the rest of the day’s toil. As Dokja slowly raised his gaze to watch the man walk away, he could only see the broad expanse of his back retreating into the distance. Before he could dwell further on the man, the team leader's voice cut through the momentary silence, signaling the return to work.

With a resigned sigh, Dokja refocused his attention on the mountain of paperwork that still awaited his consideration. Despite having the option to live off his wealthy adopted parents' resources, Dokja refused to allow himself to become an entitled rich kid, expecting the world to cater to their whims. Although his parents had initially opposed the idea of him working, citing their financial stability and successful family business, Dokja had persisted in convincing them to allow him to pursue his own career. The decision to work was not just a means of financial independence for Dokja, but a way to forge his own identity.

As the workday progressed, an hour passed in another flurry of activity. Dokja's attention was momentarily diverted when he noticed Inho Cheon’s rather unpleasant cadence in the distance. Honestly his overall presence was always something to dread. Peeking over his computer to see if the man was heading in his direction, Dokja saw one of the team leaders handing a pile of papers to Inho, much to the man’s dissatisfaction. Seeing the interaction, and empathizing with his predicament, Dokja almost had it in him to feel pity. Though right as it began to well up, Inho snapped his neck like a hawk over at Dokja, as if sensing his stare.

Jolting in his seat, Dokja tried hunching down and making himself smaller, hoping to go unnoticed. Evidently, his attempts where in vain as giddy footsteps got closer and closer, followed by Inho cheerfully calling out his name.

Forced to acknowledge Inho's presence, Dokja reluctantly met his gaze, mustering a strained smile in response. "Good afternoon, team leader… Can I help you with something?" His eyes darted around in search of a potential escape from this interaction.

Inho returned the smile, his demeanor seemingly friendly as he gestured towards the stack of documents in his hands. "Actually, yes. Could you take these off my hands for today? I’d do them myself, but I’m already loaded with other stuff to do," he requested, his tone soft and amiable. It took all of Dokja’s self-control not to scoff, knowing all too well that Inho would delegate his work even if he was free, only to take credit for it. As much as he wanted to outright refuse, there was talk that Inho would be promoted to team leader soon. Knowing that Inho could keep a grudge for a long time, there was no telling what kind of hell he’d give Dokja if he did. Dokja could only hope that the speculation was unfounded.

Dokja's gaze flitted nervously between the towering stack of paperwork demanding his attention and Inho's persistent presence, discomfort settling in. "I'm sorry, but I still have a lot to do," he mustered, his voice tinged with unease.

Inho's smile was unchanging as he glanced at the paperwork Dokja was already engrossed in, dismissing his concerns with a casual wave. "It's okay, you can just do overtime. You know the drill. I'll leave these here for you," he remarked casually, placing the additional workload on Dokja's already burdened desk, leaving him feeling overwhelmed and helpless.

"But I can't do overtime. I have to go home after my shift," Dokja protested helplessly, his voice trailing off as Inho leaned in close, invading his personal space. The proximity made Dokja acutely aware of Inho's scent.

An alpha's scent.

It triggered a visceral reaction within him. The nauseating aroma enveloped him, sending waves of revulsion through his body.

"Come on, Dokja. Don't act like someone is waiting for you at home. Do you want me to tell the team manager that you're slacking? They'd take my word over yours, wouldn't they?" Inho's breath was hot against Dokja's ear. The overpowering scent intensified, suffocating Dokja. He wanted to flee. To push Inho away, go home, and burn all the clothes that his disgusting pheromones had embedded themselves in. His body tensed, breaths coming in short gasps as he fought the overwhelming urge to escape the suffocating proximity, the unwanted invasion of his boundaries leaving him shaken and repulsed.

‘Too close’ ‘Get away’ ‘I hate it’ ‘It's disgusting’ echoed a cacophony of thoughts in Dokja's mind, primal instinct screaming for him to break free from the oppressive presence that threatened to engulf him.
Inho finally withdrew, a hand on Dokja's shoulder as thanks. Dokja remained frozen in shock, any thought to try to get back to work out the window. The heaviness of his discomfort only increased as he felt the eyes of his curious coworkers lingering on him, their gazes oppressive.

Desperate to escape the stifling atmosphere, Dokja rose unsteadily to his feet, his legs trembling beneath him as he navigated his way out. His eyes remained steadfast on the floor. Each step felt more and more like he was walking through molasses, his surroundings getting dim and blurred, his legs feeling like they were fighting to continue, an invisible force constricting his throat.

He needed fresh air, just a bit of time for himself to calm down. The fifteenth-floor had a decent balcony for breaks and lunch. On the rare days with little work, he’d eat there with Sangah. It’d do for now.

Somehow reaching the elevator, Dokja pressed the button for his intended destination and stepped aside to make way for the other two people entering. He found temporary relief in their idle chatter, a distraction from the tension that had enveloped him moments before. Yet, the nagging fear of being the subject of their discussion lingered in his mind, fueling his anxiety. What if they were talking about him, what if they could see how vulnerable he was right now? As the elevator ascended, Dokja's stress mounted, his fists clenched until his nails dug into his palm.

‘look at him, what’s wrong with him?’

‘he’s always been weird, hasn’t he?’

‘he’s an omega right, do you think—'

Taking a deep breath, Dokja slowly released it as the elevator came to a steady stop. With a small chime, the elevator doors opened to let Dokja step out onto the floor. The outside area was spacious, the floor having less office rooms to accompany it. The entire wall separating the inside of the building from it was made of glass, offering an ample view of not only the balcony but all the other skyscrapers around the city.

Stepping towards the door out, Dokja was vaguely away of the elevator doors closing behind him, the destination of the other two still inside on a higher floor. Stepping out into the open area, his hair was ruffled by the gentle breeze as he took in the expansive blue sky above. The distant sounds of the city below lightened just a bit of the heaviness that had settled into his chest before. Dokja closed his eyes, allowing the cool wind to brush against his skin, carrying away the lingering unease that had gripped him earlier.

Seats and tables were arranged at various spots around the balcony, with Dokja taking a seat near the railing. Plants were also growing in installed botanical patches around the walls and ground. The rhythmic swaying of their branches and the chirping of birds on the plants and rails lulled Dokja into a state of relaxation. With each breath of fresh air, he felt a weight lifted off his shoulders.

While the immediate turmoil from the interaction earlier had mostly dissipated, he was now left with the bitter aftertaste that always followed when it came to situations like these, He was left grappling with the persistent memories that haunted him. Despite his efforts to move on and seek help through therapy, the past continued to hold him captive, its grip unyielding. His unsettled emotions and trauma lingered like a shadow, casting a pall over his attempts to find peace.

A bitter smile played on his lips as he acknowledged the root of his struggles, the lingering impact of his past and the individuals who had shaped his perception of himself. The echoes of their influence reverberated within him, fueling a deep-seated resentment that clouded his thoughts. He knew why. It was because of them, because of Him, the man who destroyed everything. He never wanted to be an omega in the first place, but the doctor had no reason to lie....

Dokja rose to his feet, a surge of pent-up emotions breaking free. With a tight grip on the rails, he looked towards the sky and yelled. "To hell with those alphas! All of them can screw off!" The words echoed into the distance, of the birds around him flying up in surprise before returning to their places with ruffled feathers.
Dokja's anger seethed as he ruminated on those arrogant alphas, along with all the other pig-headed, self-important narcissists that he’d met throughout his life. A slide show of their faces flashed through his mind, the former calm he sought when coming up here catching fire into acrid disdain. Dokja was poised to unleash another tirade when a voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Alphas? Have they slighted you in some way?" The unexpected question halted Dokja in his tracks, making him whip around to face the familiar figure standing behind him.

"Directo Yoo?! S-Sir?!" Dokja exclamation stammered out, the man regarding him with a knowing smile. Looking down, Dokja saw that the man was holding a cigarette and a lighter. He probably came to the balcony for a smoke break. Honestly, he wasn’t exactly set on discussing his aversion to alphas with one of the directors of the prestigious Murim Conglomerate, nor did he want to say anything else that might make him even more vulnerable to the high-ranking members of the company. So, instead, Dokja attempted a quick escape.

"Ah, you must’ve come here for a break, sir. I’m very sorry for interrupting your personal time with such vulgar statements, please ignore them. I was just making my way back to my desk, so please excuse me," Dokja bowed to him and was just going to walk back, but then the director put a hand up to stop him before he could go.

"It wasn’t my intention to make you uncomfortable in your own workplace. But it seems as though I’ve done exactly that, and I apologize for it. Please believe me when I say I’ve encountered my own fair share of conceited alphas and other rather pompous figures while working in my position. There have been many individuals rightfully irked by the actions of such people, so please don’t be conscientious about sharing your frustrations,” he assured, poised in his words. A gentle smile played on his lips as he continued, "If I may ask, does that mean you prefer individuals with beta or omega traits as well?"

Dokja met Director Yoo's inquisitive gaze, surprised at the sudden question. "Oh, um, I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can answer that, sir.” His voice trailed off, the weight of the conversation hanging in the air as he struggled to articulate his thoughts.

Noticing Dokja's discomfort, he tactfully changed the subject. "My apologies again, I shouldn’t have brought up such a topic. Rather than that, may I ask for your name?" he inquired, seeking to ease the tension with a more neutral topic.

Looking up, Dokja responded, "I'm Dokja... Kim Dokja."

Director Yoo raised an eyebrow at Dokja's name, "Dokja, as an only child?"

Shaking his head, Dokja clarified, "Oh no, it means ‘reader’. I have a younger brother."

Acknowledging the clarification, Director Yoo nodded thoughtfully before pocketing his lighter and cigarette and extending his hand. Dokja hesitated briefly, eyeing the offered hand before meeting his gaze once more. With a warm smile, Director Yoo introduced himself.

"Nice to meet you, Dokja-ssi, I'm Yoo Woojin."

Chapter Text

Chapter 9: Familiar Face

"Nice to meet you, Dokja-ssi, I'm Yoo Woojin."

Dokja's gaze flitted nervously between Yoo Woojin's outstretched hand and his expectant eyes, a surge of anxiety coursing through him. Uncertain of the appropriate response, he hesitated briefly before mustering the courage to meet Woojin's gaze and extending his hand in a tentative handshake, hoping his palm wasn’t too sweaty to the touch.

"... a pleasure to be in in your company, Yoo Woojin-nim," Dokja awkwardly uttered. Woojin's face softened at Dokja's response.

“Please, Dokja-ssi, no need to be so formal. As of now we’re just two weary company workers taking a break together.”

Dokja didn’t know how to respond. Not bothered by Dokja’s silence, Woojin let go of his hand (not needing to wipe his hands off, Dokja noted) and his gaze drifted upwards to the sky, the playful wind tousling his hair. A calloused hand reached into his suit pocket, taking out the cigarette and lighter he had been holding earlier. Lighting one end of the cigarette, Yoo Woojin took a quiet drag from it, breathing out a long, wispy puff as the lighter slipped back into the confines of his suit.

In that moment, a passing cloud loomed in front of the afternoon sun, bathing the building in a temporary shadow. From where Dokja stood, it looked like a scene from a movie. A smartly dressed man in what was probably an obnoxiously priced suit gazing over the city as though he owned it. For a man of Yoo Woojin’s power, all the people and cars on the streets were as miniscule and fleeting as the clouds of smoke he breathed out. Dokja's brows furrowed in a puzzled expression as he studied Woojin.

Despite Yoo Woojin’s high standing though, he was oddly sensible and considerate of him. Maybe Woojin was just putting up a nice act for now, or maybe Dokja had just spent so much time dealing with the Minosoft bigwigs that he forgot that some bosses could actually be nice.

The low droning of an airplane passing by high above the city could be heard as Dokja continued to stare at Yoo Woojin’s broad back, his crisp black suit hugging his frame well. Large hands lay lax on the railing as the man leaned on it with his arms. Taking in the sight, an inexplicable thought popped into his head.

‘I wonder if Yoo Joonghyun will be cooking anything for dinner tonight’

"Is there something on my suit?" Woojin asked out of nowhere. The cloud once covering the sun had passed, the balcony lighting up again. Snapping his eyes up, Dokja saw Yoo Woojin looking over his shoulder at him. Rather than irritation, his expression was one of mild curiosity, that same as when he questioned Dokja’s outburst earlier.

Feeling a jolt of embarrassment for his behavior in front of his superior, Dokja straightened up and took a small step back.

"I was just surprised that a figure like yourself was so quick to dismiss my outburst. With how prominent Murim Conglomerate is, I thought you’d be the type to be strict on your workers" Dokja explained with a clipped chuckle, hand rubbing the back of his neck nervously as he looked everywhere but at the director. Internally, Dokja wanted to slap himself as soon as the words left his lips. First, he rants about how terrible alphas are in front of him and now he implies that the director looks like a slave-driver of a boss. You’re really on a roll today, Dokja.

Woojin emitted a low hum in response, the cigarette poised between his lips as he took a drag, the smoke curling and dissipating into the air with each exhale. "Well, you wouldn’t be wrong, but there's a distinct quality to the way you look at me," he remarked, turning his body to face Dokja.

Dokja looked back up to meet Woojin's face, brow raised as he sought clarification. "Excuse me? I’m not sure I understand."

"Ah, that expression. When you look at me, feels as if I’m being put under a microscope, like your eyes are picking me apart piece by piece. It happened just now, and back inside the building," he explained, his head tilting inquisitively. "So, tell me... have our paths crossed before?" The question hung in the air.

A hushed silence enveloped the surroundings following Woojin's probing question, the only audible presence being the gentle rustle of the wind. Despite knowing the obvious answer, Dokja's lips hesitated before parting to deliver his response.

"No, we have never met, Yoo Woojin-nim, not in a way that I can recall," Dokja's words carried a sense of finality.

Woojin's gaze bore into Dokja, an inscrutable expression shrouding his features before he exhaled a sigh and averted his eyes. "Really... then why do you gaze at me in such a manner?"

“…I’m not sure what you see in my expression, Woojin-nim, but it’s probably one of a low-rank employee contemplating if he’d going to lose his job after making a fool of himself in front of one of the country’s most prominent businessmen.” Dokja muttered dejectedly.

Yoo Woojin let out a bark of laughter at that, the jerk of his body causing some of the ashes from his cigarette to flake of the end. Seeing this, Dokja glanced around to see an ashtray sitting atop one of the nearby tables. Taking the chance to get grab it as the director was still getting his chuckles out, Dokja handed it over to him, the man giving his thanks from lips that curved up into a still humored smile.

He tapped the excess ashes from his cigarette before taking another drag from it. It may have been Dokja’s imagination, but it looked like his shoulders were considerably more relaxed.

“Well now, that wasn’t exactly the answer that I was looking for, but I can still appreciate your candidness nonetheless Dokja-ssi” the director said, “These days, it seems like all that everyone can do is walk on eggshells around me. Even if it is out of instinct rather than intention, your bluntness is a breath of fresh air for me. Only my father and nephew have ever spoken to me so directly, though sadly their words have become a bit stale as of late.”

Dokja blinked in surprise, processing the new information. "Father and nephew?" he echoed, his curiosity piqued by the unexpected revelation.

Woojin arched an eyebrow, an amused glint in his eyes. "Hm, do you not know? The Murim Conglomerate is a family business.” When Dokja’s blank face was the only response, he was met with, he shook his head, “My, you must have been living under a rock," he remarked.

Dokja got the feeling that despite Woojin’s words, he didn’t mean to be derisive. Yet, he couldn’t help but feel vaguely insulted. His lack of knowledge about the Murim Conglomeration a conscious choice, a simple office worker like him would get nothing out of knowing the ins and outs of some big company (he definitely lived under a rock). He would much rather prioritize his time and energy into his books rather than delving into corporate gossip.

Woojin shifted the focus of the conversation, "Now that I think about it, why are you here? I was under the impression that lunch break had already passed for this company."

Dokja blinked several times in response, a flicker of hesitation crossing his features before he shook his head and mustered an awkward smile. "No, it's nothing... It's not something that should concern you, Woojin-nim," he deflected, choosing to keep himself guarded rather than risk divulging the information. The specter of workplace politics and potential repercussions loomed in Dokja's mind, a reminder of the delicate balance between transparency and discretion in a place where information was held in upmost importance.

Woojin put out his cigarette on the ashtray, pushing it away as he casually gestured at the space beside him, inviting Dokja to stand next to him at the railing. "Come on, you can tell me. After all, I already overheard your passionate declaration towards Alphas. It's nothing to be nervous about." Dokja's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. At this point the director was poking fun at him on purpose! He couldn’t believe it, someone just make him disappear right here right now!

Dokja fidgeted with his fingers as he grappled with what to say. After a moment of contemplation, he tentatively stepped next to the director, looking down at the buildings around the city. "I’m just taking a break from all the paperwork and tasks that are waiting to get done on my desk. I have obligations at home after my shift, and I’m worried I won’t be able to fulfill them with the overtime I’m probably going to do." Doka ran a frustrated hand through his hair, “I’m probably not making it any better by taking such a long break, am I?” He let out a self-deprecating laugh, though it was more of an exhale, “Just the struggles of an office worker, no different from any other person in my position.”

A tense silence settled between them as Woojin absorbed Dokja's words, his expression unreadable. The quietude that followed left Dokja on edge, his mind racing with anticipation and anxiety over the impending response from the man before him.

Woojin's voice broke the silence as he offered his perspective, "…You have a bad habit of speaking in half-truths, Dokja-ssi. As brazen with your words as you are, there’s always something else on your mind that you choose not to give away.”

No response came from beside the director, only the uncomfortable shuffling of feet followed by more silence as Dokja opted to continue staring at the scenery before the balcony. Unfazed by the lack of reply, Woojin carried on.

“If I had to take a guess from you earlier shouting, I’d say that it was most likely an alpha that gave you all that work to do, wasn’t it?” From the corner of Woojin’s eye, Dokja slightly flinched, subtly turning himself away from Woojin. Ah, he hit the nail on the head, then.

“Well... that's unfair, and I understand why you’re so frustrated. I would feel the same if someone burdened me with so many tasks. But I'm curious, your earlier sentiments seemed to extend beyond just your co-worker. Why the general disdain towards Alphas?"

Dokja's mind churned with a tumult of emotions as he navigated his past with Alphas. It wasn't merely disdain that simmered within him; it was a deep-seated hatred. The echoes of that fateful night lingered in his memory, the words of the doctor's prognosis resurfacing in his thoughts to haunt him once more. The notion of what he couldn't do, what he was supposedly limited by, had once held power over him.

Yet, in that moment of reflection, Dokja found himself questioning the significance of those limitations. What if he couldn't... did it truly matter in the grand scheme of things?

The sound of a voice calling his name snapped Dokja back to the present, his reverie interrupted by Woojin's concern face. Startled, Dokja blinked, organizing the words he wanted to say before opening his mouth.
"There’s no comfortable way for me to answer your question, Yoo Woojin-nim."

Woojin's expression softened with a hint of regret as he acknowledged, "I understand, Dokja-ssi, thank you for your honesty."

Dokja held Woojin's gaze before softly uttering, "No, thank you for respecting my boundaries."

A gentle smile graced Woojin's features until the interruption of a ringing phone drew his attention. Retrieving his phone from his pocket, he glanced apologetically at Dokja and stated, "I'm going to need to take this call."

With a nod, Dokja replied, "Certainly. I have to return to work anyways. There's a lot I still have to do." As he turned to leave, he noticed Woojin's lingering gaze, "Is there something wrong?"

Woojin maintained the gaze, his response soft yet definitive, "Nothing." He continued, "It was nice talking to you, Kim Dokja-ssi."

Returning the sentiment, Dokja smiled, "Likewise, Woojin-nim." With that, he turned and made his way back to his work area, the weight of the encounter with Woojin lingering in his thoughts. Despite the curious glances of his co-workers, Dokja made it back to his desk free of any more trouble. The catharsis of being able to vent out his frustrations to another person was calming, wrapping his mind in a pleasant sheet of tranquility and giving him the extra strength he needed to push on with his work.

Plopping down on his chair, Dokja made sure to shoot off a text to Joonghyun about having to work overtime. With one last stretch, he delved back into his work, having piles of his own reports to soldier through before he could even think of doing Inho’s portion. Gradually the light filtering through the office windows transitioned into a deeply orange hue as the sunset had begun to settle on the city skyline. As more hour passed by, a few of his luckier coworkers were already able to clock out, and Dokja tried not to be too jealous of them when he heard them saying their goodbyes early.

The constant tapping of his fingers against his keyboard paused for a moment as Dokja took a second to assess how many papers he had left to do. Somehow, he was able to make a sizable dent in his workload, the pile of ‘finished’ work finally larger than the pile of ‘in-progress’ work. With the amount he had left, he could probably finish it around 7 of 8 o’clock if he kept on the pace he was going, maybe even around the time his workday actually ended if he pushed himself.

But then his eyes trailed over to the additional stack of papers Inho had given him, and immediately his mood was dashed. Those would definitely add a few more hours of toiling to his day, he’d be lucky to leave the office by 10.

A grimace overcame his features as Dokja shot a glare over at the pile, willing it to just disappear. Disappointed with the lack of results, he turned back to his computer to do his next report. That is, until he heard the team manager harshly calling out to Inho. As the team manager approached Inho, a visible shift in Inho's demeanor betrayed his apprehension. His interest piqued, along with that of his fellow coworkers, he joined them in peering over to try to listen on what was happening.

From where he sat, he couldn’t make out any words, but the manager’s reprimanding hisses and Inho’s meek voice replying to him made the purpose of their conversation clear.

Considering all that Inho did to suck up to the higher ups and team managers, whatever mistake he made must’ve have been pretty bad for the team manager to chew him out in front of the whole office. The gravity of the conversation with the team manager left Inho visibly shaken, his complexion paling at whatever parting words the team manager gave him before he went back to his office. Inho lingered at his desk for a bit before suddenly standing up. Dokja's heart raced as Inho turned his attention towards him, his satisfaction over Inho’s misery cut short. Like all the other times when he got into a foul mood, the man would just pile on more work on him.

Inho arrived at his desk with a strained smile, looking more like an animal that was baring its teeth. It sent a shiver down Dokja's spine. He braced himself for the worst. "Sir, I was just about to get to the documents you handed me earlier, if you came here to check on their progress."

To Dokja's astonishment, Inho had no work to offer him.

"Actually, I’ve come to take the load off your hands. I've realized that I have no pending tasks for the day, so I'll take care of them myself," Inho retrieved the documents in question.

Dumbfounded, Dokja blinked in disbelief, unable to process the sudden turn of events. "Eh?" he uttered, his confusion palpable as Inho took back the documents that had initially burdened Dokja with.

"If you'll excuse me..." Inho's strained words trailed off as he swiftly departed, leaving Dokja grasping for what just happened.

Dokja's voice barely above a whisper, he echoed the sentiments echoing in his mind, "What just happened?"

"It's because of the team manager..." As Jiwon's voice drew his attention, he turned to face her, her station adjacent to his. The office’s atmosphere tensed as Inho's frustration boiled over, the sound of documents slamming against the table reverberating through the room, eliciting startled reactions from those around him. Observing the scene unfold, Jiwon leaned in and shared her insights, "I couldn't hear everything that the team manager said, but I think he caught wind of the situation and scolded him for it," she explained, a shrug punctuating her observation.

Dokja's gaze lingered on Inho's visibly irritated demeanor before his attention shifted to a sudden realization. The puzzle pieces clicked into place as he connected the dots – his conversation with Yoo Woojin. The revelation struck him like a bolt of lightning, prompting a swift decision. Without a moment's hesitation, Dokja stood up abruptly and bolted from his workstation, a sense of urgency propelling him forward.

Jiwon's eyes widened in shock as she called out his name, but Dokja remained undeterred.

Determined to intercept Yoo Woojin before he departed, Dokja took the elevator down to the first floor. As the elevator doors slid open, he wasted no time, sprinting towards the entrance where he spotted Woojin heading towards a sleek black car awaiting him outside the office building. In a desperate attempt to catch his attention, Dokja called out, "Mr. Yoo!"

As Dokja approached Woojin, his secretary, and bodyguards moved to intervene, only to halt at Woojin's signal. The unspoken command prompted the bodyguards to take a few steps back, giving some breathing room for the two of them to talk comfortably.

Woojin met Dokja halfway through.
"Are you here to say goodbye?"

Dokja locked eyes with Woojin, his breaths coming in short puffs as he confronted him, "It's you, isn't it... you're the one who told team manager."

Woojin's facade of innocence faltered slightly as he tilted his head in feigned confusion, "I'm afraid I don't follow."

Unyielding, Dokja pressed on, refusing to be swayed by Woojin's act. "Don't pretend like you're clueless. I know you had a hand in this," he asserted.

Woojin's smirk held a hint of mischief as he acknowledged, "Well, I came to Minosoft today to make sure its staff and personnel were appropriately equipped to operate up to the standards of the Murim Company. As a director it’s my job to address when employees as not behaving as they should."

Feeling a sense of accountability creeping in, Dokja urged him, "You didn't have to do that..."

Perplexed by Dokja's response, Woojin quipped, "Rather than saying that, I’ve very much prefer if I could receive your gratitude instead," he said with a small but eager curl of his lips.

After a moment of contemplation, Dokja relented, acknowledging the unexpected turn of events, "Fine... thank you for that, Yoo Woojin-nim."

Woojin hummed in response, his tone light as he expressed, "Not at all, but I would appreciate it if you would drop with the formalities."

Dokja's frown deepened at the request, "Why would you want that?"

Undeterred, Woojin hummed once more and continued, "Because, why not..." Extending his hand, he playfully tapped Dokja's nose with his finger, "plus, I’ve taken an interest in you."

Chapter Text

Chapter 10: Meeting two lovely children

The morning light filtering through Dokja’s bedroom windows didn’t seem as harsh today as it did on every other workday. In fact, his body felt oddly light and energetic. As warm as it was under his blanket, getting out of his bed to have a nice stretch sounded like a perfect beginning to his day, so he did exactly that. Taking a deep breath, Dokja could almost feel the clean air going through his veins. The refreshment of seeing Inho reprimanded for once carried itself over to this morning from yesterday, not that he was complaining though.

Even Jiwon and Sangah noticed his good mood the other day after they all got off from work, the two of them helping Dokja finish off his extra papers so that they could all leave the office together. When the two women questioned him about it, and if they’d need to file any workplace harassment complaints against Inho for him, he just shrugged them off with a smile.

Rising from his bed, he tidied up the sheets before making his way to the kitchen, where the coffee aroma that had been dispersing throughout the house only got stronger, along with the delicious smell of whatever Joonghyun was cooking.

Entering the kitchen, Dokja saw that something was cooking away on the pan while Joonghyun was busy chopping the vegetables, his back turned toward him. Getting another view of Joonghyun’s muscular arms as he worked away, Dokja couldn’t help but frown as he compared them to his own arms, which looked rather frail and slender in comparison.

Letting himself pout at the unfairness for a second, he approached Joonghyun. "Good morning, Joonghyun-ah!" he greeted cheerfully. Peeking at the cuttingboard, it looked like they would be having peas, carrots, and onions–no tomatoes. Thank goodness. Maybe he should tell Joonghyun to omit those from now on.

Despite the greeting, Joonghyun remained focused on his task, the rhythm of his chopping uninterrupted as he replied with a simple, "Morning." Dokja didn’t mind though. During the time he’d visited Joonghyun in the hospital, he’d long learned that Joonghyuk’s silence just meant that he had just had nothing to say, not that he was going out of his way to make things uncomfortable.

The quiet morning scene continued just like that, with the clinking of utensils and the scent of cooking creating a cozy ambiance in the kitchen.

The rice cooker to Joonghyun’s side beeped, announcing the rice was ready. Grabbing another pan (Dokja could’ve sworn he only had one) Joonghyun put it on the stove, adding in oil, the vegetables he’d cut up, some spice and seasoning, and finally the rice, all the while stirring the ingredients as they heated up. He was constantly moving, keeping track of multiple pans as he prepped more ingredients and cleared up the counter. "What are you making today?" Dokja asked, scooting out of the way as Joonghyun reached to get some eggs from the fridge.

"Hotteok and Omurice," he responded promptly, cracking the eggs into the bowl and beating them altogether.

Dokja hummed in acknowledgment. While he still wasn’t sure what he’d do if Joonghyun decided to put tomatoes in his dishes, he was willing to give Joonghyun’s cooking a chance, given his prior experience of his cooking was a delight. Though, as Dokja thought about it, a question nagged at his mind
Joonghyun..." he shot Dokja a sidelong glance, "I'm curious... if you lost your memories, how do you know how to cook?"

Joonghyun's movement slowed a bit as he thought about it, the notion having just occurred to him too. Though, he quickly went back to what he was doing, transferring the fried rice he was making to a plate before pouring the eggs into the pan.

“Hmm…who knows. When I went into your kitchen the first time, I just felt like I wanted to cook something. The rest of it just came to me naturally, like muscle memory.”

“Naturally, huh,” Dokja muttered to himself, thoughtfully. After a few more moments of contemplation, Dokja snapped his fingers. “ Y’know, this could be a clue about you. Maybe that means you were a chef before the accident.” Despite Dokja’s enthusiasm, Joonghyun could only shrug.

“I suppose that could be true, but something as vague as being good at cooking won’t lead us any closer to my identity.”

With a sigh, Dokja went over to sit on the seats in from of the kitchen counter, a troubled look coming over his face.

“Haah, I know, but maybe if you do it enough it could jog up your memory recovery a bit,” then, a bit quieter, “It happened in one of the web novels I read. I know it’s just fiction, but there’s a chance…”

All of a sudden, a plate of hotteok slid in front of him. When he looked up at Joonghyuk the other man was looking at him expectantly, something soft in his eyes.
“Then I guess I’ll just have to keep making food for you. All for the sake of my memories, of course.”

Dokja stared in disbelief at Joonghyun's response, but then his lips stretched into a bright smile. "Right, then I guess I’ll just have to eat everything you make, so you can recovery faster!” With that, Dokja took a large bit out of the warm hotteok. When he did, Joonghyun could see how his entire body relaxed as he savored the sweet taste.

Despite Joonghyun's attempt to look away to conceal his smile, his efforts were in vain as a hint of amusement danced in his eyes. Especially with the pheromones that Dokja was releasing. It was comforting.

He plated the rest of the hotteok he made along with the two finished omurice, putting all of the dishes on the counter in front of Dokja with utensils.

Watching Joonghyun settle into the seat beside him, Dokja him a more proper thanks for the meal before picking up his spoon and digging into the omurice settle. The first bite he took was perfect, the egg was soft, and the fried rice was cooked to perfection. The vegetables went well with the rice, there wasn't too much oil added, and the seasoning that Joonghyun had added didn't overpower the natural flavors of the other ingredients. As simple as a meal as it was, the omurice was incredibly good. Dokja couldn’t help but savor every bite that he took of it.

He was almost sad when he went to scoop another bite of it only for his spoon to hit the plate, the whole thing polished off to the last grain. Well, the only thing to do now was to look forward to the next meal Joonghyun would cook.

Beside him Joonghyun also seemed content with his cooking, reaching out to take hotteok from the stack still on the plate. Dokja took both of their dishes to wash in the sink, along with all the other dishware that Joonghyun had used. Eventually Joonghyun joined in on cleaning up the kitchen, putting away the ingredients he left out and wiping away the counterspace.

Dokja was finally able to load the last bowl into the dishwasher, the sound of the doorbell went off. With Joonghyun still occupied with cleaning, Dokja dried his hands with a cloth and made his way to the front door.
Upon opening it, he had to look down to see the two children who were peering at him eagerly, both dressed in matching uniforms. A warm smile spread across Dokja's face as he welcomed them. "Gilyeong, Yoosung!" he said warmly. It looked like today was only getting better and better with each passing moment.

"Hyung” ”Ajusshi!" both children chimed in unison, running up to hug his waist. Chuckling at their excitement, he ruffled their heads and knelt down to look at them properly.

"What brings both of you here, shouldn’t you be getting ready for school right now?" Gilyeong and Yoosung typically walked to school together, with Gilyeong's mother offering to come along with them due to Yoosung's mother's busy schedule.

Dokja had first encountered the two children after he found multiple inexplicable holes dug up in his yard. What he’d acquitted at the time to wild possums was actually Gilyeong and Yoosung hunting the neighborhood for animals. Exasperated, Dokja helped them clean off their hands and faces of dirt and bought the kids some ice cream from the nearby convenience store in the hope that they’d leave his poor flowerbeds alone.

Instead, they kept coming over to his home for some reason, whether to find more animals or use his home as their playground, though Dokja couldn’t mind that much. Though, eventually he did get worried about why the two children would always come to his home, so Dokja decided to pay their parents a visit to make sure that everything was okay with their familial situations. In the end he was given earnest apologies from both of their mothers, who had no idea their children were bothering the neighbor down the street.

Both mothers had assumed that the ‘Dokja’ that their children always spoke about and hung out with constantly was a school friend.

Though they were at first unsure about whether to trust Dokja to take care of their children, through a couple of long conversations and time spent observing how Dokja and the kids interacted with each other, the mothers now often relied on Dokja to look over them at times when they were busy. Just like today.

"Mom had to go in early to work today, so can we go with you today?" Gilyeong explained to Dokja.

Dokja opened his mouth, ready to respond in the affirmative, but then hesitated as he remembered his schedule for today, "Umm... my work isn't ideal right now because of a son of a—" Catching himself before he could curse, he quickly closed his mouth and apologized, "Yeah, I can't. I'm really sorry, I’ll make it up to you guys, I promise!"

The smiles on the children's faces started to fade, disappointment rolling off of them in waves. Understanding that this was a rare opportunity for them to spend time together, he felt a pang of regret at not being able to accompany them due to his own busy schedule. However, a sudden realization struck him.
"Actually, wait right here, okay?" Dokja quickly instructed, ushering the children into the entrance before slamming the door shut and dashed off before the children could respond.

"Joonghyun!" Dokja called out, walking to the kitchen to see that it was empty. Walking around, was managed to find Joonghyun leaning against the window to the backyard and gazing in the distance with a cup of coffee in hand.

"There you are! I've been looking for you," he exclaimed, drawing Joonghyun's attention towards him.

"Do you need something?"

Approaching Joonghyun, Dokja placed a nervous hand on the back of his neck. "Yeah, actually, if you don’t mind…?”

Joonghyun raised an eyebrow, “For what?"

"Well...sometimes my neighbors rely on me to take walk their kids to school. I’d do it if I could, but I really can’t be late to work today. Could you watch over them for me today?” he explained. With what happened yesterday, Dokja just knew that Inho would be chomping at the bit to get on his ass for anything that he could. No way was he going to give Inho that type of ammo so quickly after he finally got what he deserved. Moments like that should be savored for as long as they can.

“I don’t mind but…” Joonghyun cut into Dokja’s pondering, “will their parents really be okay with that? I’m a total stranger to them after all…”

Surprising enough, Dokja was quick to wave away their concerns. “No worries, I’ve got both my neighbors’ numbers, I’ll fill them in on the situation. After all the times I’ve looked after the kids, they trust in my judgement of character enough to allow some exceptions. This isn’t the first time something like this has come up.”

The exception that Dokja was referring to was a day just like this that he couldn’t walk the kids to school. Instead, he’d been able to get Han Sooyoung to do it. The next few days had been filled with Han Sooyoung lamenting about how ‘annoying’ and ‘uncultured’ kids were nowadays, and the kids complaining about how she desperately tried to prove to them that she was a famous and talented writer.

Evidently, they all spent the entire time bickering with each other, but honestly Dokja got the feeling they kind of got some amusement out of the arguing.

Assured by Dokja’s words, Joonghyun nodded his head.

“As long as they don’t have any problems with it, then I have no qualms about taking the kids to school.”
Dokja beamed at him, appreciative.

“Great! I’ll call the moms right now. The kids should be sitting in the living room, you can go introduce yourself and get familiar with them while I’m on the phone.”
Joonghyun nodded mutely before heading off in that direction. Dokja did just as he told Joonghyun he would, and after couple minutes of explaining the situation and vouching for Joonghyun, both mothers gave the okay for his plan.

Relieved that everything would be able to work out, Dokja went to the living room to relay the info to everyone. But as soon as he stepped into the threshold, all he saw was Gilyeong glaring up at Joonghyun as he stared blankly down at him, expressionless. Yoosung had a more unsure look on her face as she studied Joonghyun.

"Gilyeong, Yoosung? I only left you guys alone for a few minutes, what happened?" Dokja asked, worried.

capturing the children's attention as they eagerly ran in front of him, as if trying to block him from Joonghyun.
"Hyung, who is this guy?" Gilyeong asked, wearily looking Joonghyun up and down.

Before Dokja could respond, Yoosung boldly asked, "Are you his mate?" Joonghyun eyes widened in surprise, mirroring Dokja's shocked expression as he processed the unexpected question. Dokja was quick to intervene, but, Gilyeong was quicker, vehemently denying the suggestion.

"No way! Hyung hasn't even been on a date. What are you talking about? And he’d never consider dating some scowly bastard like that, so it's impossible! He hasn’t even courted Hyung!"

Dokja couldn't help but wince at the blunt assessment. Honestly, these children had such sharp tongues sometimes.

Dokja quickly clarified, waving his hands to dispel any misconceptions. "No, Yoosung, Joonghyun is just my friend! He's staying here temporarily," he explained, hoping to dispel any confusion, “Since I can't accompany both of you, Joonghyun will be the one to take you to school," he cleared up.

Gilyeong wrinkled his nose at the prospect, but since it came from Dokja, all he could do was cross his arms and pout. Yoosung, looked nervously as Dokja, hesitantly expressing, "If Ahjussi is busy, we can just walk by ourselves…we don't want to be a bother to anyone," her gaze shifting to her fidgeting fingers.

"I have some free time, I don’t mind," Joognhun said.

The children exchanged glances, silently communicating before turning their attention to Joonghyun. Yoosung nodded and conceded, "If you say so..."

Joonghyun nodded in agreement and excused himself to change clothes.

"Alright!" Dokja clapped his hands together. "For the meantime, why don’t you two go stand by the door to wait for him, I’ll go tell Joonghyun the directions to the school.”

As the children settled by the door, Dokja made his way to Joonghyun's room. He pushed open the door without knocking, calling out, "Joonghyun, are y—Uwah!" His words caught in his throat as he let out a startled sound upon seeing Joonghyun shirtless. Shocked, he quickly averted his gaze and apologized, "I'm sorry, the door was open, so…”

“…No worries, I should’ve closed the door. Give me a moment.”

Dokja made and affirmative noise before closing the door fully this time and waiting against the wall. The entire time, the image of Joonghyun’s toned chest lingered in his mind, much to his own embarrassment and self-reproach flooded his mind as he questioned his actions and the awkward predicament, he found himself in. While he was mentally beating him self up for being a pervert, Joonghyun stepped out the of room, fully dressed in a black dress shirt and dark pants.

A couple of the top buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing those god forsaken muscles again.

Right as Dokja was fixing to shake himself out of this inappropriate train of thought, Joonghyun got closer to him, placing a hand on Dokja's forehead. "Your face is red... are you feeling unwell?" he inquired, his worry evident in his tone as he assessed Dokja's condition.

Due to the close proximity, Dokja caught a whiff of Joonghyun's pheromones, which only threw his mind into more chaos. More flustered than before, hastily took a step back to compose himself, feeling heat rising within him.

"Don't worry, I'm fine!" Dokja reassured Joonghyun, attempting to regain his composure.

However, Joonghyun's persistent concern led him to question, "Are you su—"

"YEP, no worries here!" Dokja exclaimed, his outburst unintentionally loud, surprising both himself and Joonghyun. Needing to escape the now awkward situation, Dokja hurriedly told Joonghyun how to get to the children’s school and where to find the spare lock when he came back to the house. As soon as the last syllable left his mouth, he rushed to his room under the pretense of getting ready for work, the door slamming shut behind him.

Hands covering his red face, Dokja whispered to himself, "God... what the hell is wrong with me?"

Taepung High School

"What's with the long face?"

The girl didn’t bother answering him. Resting her cheek on her palm, her listless gaze fixed on the bustling field outside the window. From what she could tell, some of the school’s sports teams were switching off to use the field, but which teams they were she had no idea, nor could she bring herself to care. Unperturbed by the lack of response, the boy raised an eyebrow and waved his hand in front of her face. "Lee Jihye, are you still with me?" he called out, prompting her to finally look at him with a glare before abruptly standing up and walking away.

Confused by her sudden change in attitude, the boy scrambled after her, calling out, "Hey! Wait! Lee Jihye!" Brushing passed the desks and the other people in the classroom, he caught up with her in the hallway. "What's up with you?" genuine worry colored his tone.

"Ugh, I don’t have the energy to deal with you, Kim Namwoon, especially right now," Jihye snapped, her steps unwavering as she continued to walk. Despite her dismissal, Namwoon persisted in walking alongside her.

Namwoon's eyes widened in astonishment. "Woah! It’s been a while... you never call me by my name unless you're upset about something," he observed. Determined to understand the reason behind her behavior, Namwoon gently grabbed her wrist, turning her to face him. "Tell me already... what’s going on, did I do something wrong?" Kim Namwoon far preferred their usual quarrelling to the silent tension ah had come between the two recently.

Jihye met Namwoon's gaze before gently removing his hand from her wrist. "You didn't..." she began, but Namwoon spoke first.

"Then why are you acting this way? You can talk to me, you know... whatever’s going on, I’ll listen," Namwoon implored, his eyes locked with hers, searching for any sign of concession.

For a moment, they stood locked in a silent exchange. Passing by students couldn't help but back off and rush past the two of them, sensing the underlying tension between the two.

Ultimately, Jihye was the first to give in, releasing a frustrated sigh and leaning against the hallway wall, her stature slacked. Namwoon went to stand next to her, mentally celebrating this small victory. At first Jihye kept regarding him with a skeptical expression, but soon relented.

"Well... we still haven't been able to locate master yet. Some cowards are even saying he’s dead."

Shrugging nonchalantly, Namwoon replied, "Well, it only makes sense that they would, everyone’s out to get his position." His casual remark earned him a half-hearted punch in the arm from Jihye, causing him to wince in mock pain. "Ouch!" he exclaimed.

Jihye continued. "Whatever, as long as we haven't found a body or any evidence... I know he's still alive out there somewhere.”

"Or maybe he ran off to get some vacation days for himself," Namwoon suggested, prompting a sharp glare from Jihye. He shrugged in response, adding, "Just throwing it out there!"

"Just be quiet if you can't say something sensible!"
"But that was a sensible, it's called suggesti—Ouch, that hurts! Let go of my hair!"

Little did they know, the man they were discussing was just down the street walking with two energetic children.

Chapter Text

Chapter 11: Hatred

The clouds above rolled heavily by as the dark sky rumbled with thunder. Heavy rain cascaded to the ground in unrelenting sheets, sure to disprove any ignorant bystander thinking they could brave the storm without consequence. Regardless of this, a car pulled over to a stop along the curb. After a moment, the driver door opened. First emerged an unfurled umbrella, followed by a head of long, silken, black hair. Fully stepping out, the figure was dressed in all black, as bleak as the weather that she’d arrived at her destination with.

She proceeded forward, eyes scanning the neatly lined headstones along her walking path. They were at varying states of disrepair, some still lovingly cleaned and surrounded by flowers, signs, and decorations from loved one; others weathered down beyond recognition, either from the unyielding passage of time or simply from neglect. Perhaps this passing rain shower would be the only care they’ve had in a long while.

A bouquet of flowers was held limply in the woman's hand. What kind they were or what they meant, she had no idea, nor did she care. She simply went with whatever the florist had on hand. The light clicks of heels against the wet stone, barely audible with the rain battering against the ground, came to a stop as the woman arrived at her intended destination.

[Choi Chae-rin]

It was the inscription of the headstone in front of her, burned into her memory from the countless hours she’d probably stood in front of it, staring at it until her eyes watered.

Placing the bouquet in front of the headstone, she knew that they wouldn’t last long with the weather like this, The flowers would be crushed and waterlogged by the time she walked out of here. The corpse buried in the ground underneath her feet would’ve been furious, appalled even, receiving such a pitiful gift after her death.

A part of her sneered humorously at the thought of getting under the woman’s skin, even after death. Another part of her, much smaller and easily ignored, wondered if she should come back another day, perhaps when the clouds had cleared up, and with another freshly cut bouquet in her hands to offer.

Her lips moved against each other, wanting to speak but having no words with which to offer. The rain continued to fall. What would it matter, if she had no words to give.

The woman was dead. And even in life, the words she had spoken to the woman were even more useless than the sad bouquet laying at her feet. How was it that even after death, she could still make her feel so small, that this hunk of rock could reduce her to the small, helpless child she’d been forced to be.
Gritting her teeth at the thoughts and emotions swelling inside of her, she let out a resigned sigh before turning to leave, casting one last lingering glance back at the tombstone.

"Noona…?"

"…Woojin," she quietly acknowledged, the both of them standing before the steps to the mansion door.

"The last time I saw you here was what... the last anniversary party for the company, was it?" Woojin wondered to himself, his hands tucked into his pockets as he contemplated his own thoughts.

"Father insisted on my presence, ready to deliver a lengthy lecture if I didn't comply. Don’t expect my company here on a normal basis."

Woojin nodded in acknowledgment before his gaze traveled over her attire, lingering on her for a moment. "Mother always liked that dress, you know. She would’ve been happy to see you wearing it when you visited."

She scoffed dismissively as she made her way into the mansion, with Woojin trailing behind. "And why would I have done such a thing, after everything that she’s put me through,” she asserted firmly.

"Whatever you say..." Woojin responded with a shrug, the conversation shifting as they continued their walk. Though, their talk was interrupted when a small, black blur nearly collided into them as it was exiting on of the rooms. With Woojin stabilizing his sister, he turned to see two pigtails adorning the small figure that had almost run into them. “Ah, Mia-yah, I’m sorry about that. Are you okay?" Woojin asked, fixing his gaze on the girl.

Mia returned his gaze and respectfully bowed, "Yes Ajeossi, thank you." Mia’s attention then turned to the woman, and upon meeting her cold stare, pursed her lips and quickly looked away."Ah, hello Imode," her voice barely above a whisper as she remained apprehensive. She wasn’t met with a response.

“Well then, I’m glad to know you’re alright, Mia-yah..." Woojin greeted warmly, offering a smile to the little girl to fill in the silence. Shooting a look at his sister, who continued to stare at Mia with a cold intensity, Woojin turned back to Mia and asked, "Your Imode and I will be having snacks and lunch together after visiting your halabuji, did you want to join us?"

The little girl shook her head, declining his offer. "No, I'm going to play in the garden," she replied, bowing politely as she bid farewell. "Goodbye, Ajeossi..." she said, then turned her gaze to the woman, adding a hesitant "Imode..."

Woojin responded with a cheerful wave goodbye as the little girl set off to elsewhere, but his sister simply walked away before Mia could even get all of her words out. Feeling the awkwardness of the situation, Woojin released strained sigh before following after his sister.

"Oi, Noona…" Woojin called out, quickening his pace to catch up with her. "You shouldn't look at Mia like that, she’s only a child," he admonished, concerned about her behavior.

His sister simply scoffed and replied, "I don't know what you're talking about."

This time Woojin didn’t hold back his exasperation as he told off his sister. "This isn’t the first time, Noona. You look at her as if she ruined your life..."

His sister narrowed her eyes and whispered under her breath, "But she did... they did..."

Woojin, not hearing her hushed words, furrowed his brow in confusion. "What?" he asked.

"I know my place within this family. She should learn hers," she replied, continuing to stride forward. Woojin, still wanting to press her on the matter but feeling the hostile air around his sister increasing, chose to bite his tongue and follow her in silence.

In no time they arrived before a pair of large mahogany doors.

"Father, Woojin and I have arrived by your request," she announced, following the few knocks she gave. Silence filled the hall, before a voice from within replied

"Come in."

She nodded and pushed open the door, revealing their father seated at his study, diligently looking over documents. "Rough day, Abeoji?" Woojin asked as they stepped into the office, the door closing with a thump behind the two.

The older man looked up from his work, his eyes first locking onto his son, before brushing past him to land on his daughter. More specifically, the clothes she was wearing. A look flashed over his face, but what exactly it was, neither of his children could tell.

"Feeling sentimental today, are we Min-ji?" he commented, his voice laced with a hint of amusement. "If that’s what it takes for you to wear practical clothing, then you’re welcome to mourn all you want,” He sighed, returning his attention to the documents and continuing to sign them.

‘Practical’ meant that it would be easier to conceal and clean the blood from their operations. However, Min-ji was averse to it, unlike her sibling and father. If their world didn’t even let her choose the clothes that she wore on her back, she wanted no part in it. "Why did you call me?" she asked directly, not wasting any time on pleasantries.

Her father met her gaze, then set down his pen and leaned back in his chair. "It's time for you to get married," he declared.

Min-ji stared at him blankly, her expression unchanging. This was a familiar topic, one that she had heard countless times before, and it always filled her with a sense of dread. "I have no plans to do so, you know that" she replied, her voice flat.

"Min-ji," her father sighed, "you're already in your forties. It's time for you to settle down and start building connections."

"I’m not so past my prime that I can’t be of use in other ways for the family," she retorted, her voice laced with frustration. "I’ll be deciding for myself if and when I want to surrender myself to such obligations."

Her father raised an eyebrow, a knowing glint in his eyes. "Really now? Seeing that stripper that you picked up off the streets, I would’ve thought you’d spread your legs for anyone."

Min-ji's eyes widened slightly, but then she remembered who she was talking to. Of course, her father found out. Woojin, however, blinked owlishly, taken aback. "Abeoji! Is there really a need to say that?"

However, their father brushed off his words. He stood up from his chair, his voice laced with disappointment. "It’d do you well not to learn from your sister, Woojin. After finally moving on from that other disappointment she acquainted herself with, she fell into the arms of another one.”

"It's my own life," Min-ji declared, her voice unwavering. "I have every right to choose what I do and who I'm with." Her gaze remained fixed on her father, her eyes unwavering, not even blinking.

"Think of how this will look to our associates, what they’ll think and what that means for our reputation. For your reputation," her father warned, his voice laced with a hint of threat.

"Of all that this family done, this is what you choose to reprimand?” Min-ji retorted defiantly. "I’ve done everything that this family has needed of me and more. I’ve earned the right to make this choice for myself, whether or not you have the capacity to recognize it—" She was cut off mid-sentence as her father's hand connected with her cheek, sending a sharp sting across her face. Her head snapped to the side, a sharp pain on her lip.

Woojin's started to reach toward her. "Noona, are you ok—" he began, but his father's stern command cut him off. "Yoo Woojin, quiet!" Woojin, unable to disobey his father, clamped his lips shut, his words unspoken. Their father's gaze turned back to Min-ji, his eyes cold and filled with disdain. "You ‘ve already made an embarrassment out of yourself before coming here. Even now you continue to entertain ridiculous notions in front of your own blood. When will your stop this childishness, Min-ji?”

Min-ji heard his words echoing in her mind. Just like the words on her mother’s tombstone, her father’s disappointment in her had found a permanent residence in her life. She slowly turned her head back to face him, a bitter smile playing on her lips. "I will always be an embarrassment to you," she acknowledged, her voice devoid of emotion.

Her father pursed his lips, then clenched his jaw in preparation to say something else but Min-ji cut him off before he could do so. "I believe we’ve both made our thoughts clear on this matter and will not come to an agreement on it anytime soon. If that’s all you’ve summoned me here to discuss, then I’ll be taking my leave. Please excuse me... Chairman," she said, bowing respectfully before turning and walking away.

Woojin, caught in the middle of the escalating tension, was unsure what to do. Should he stay with his father or follow his sister? He glanced at his father, who was still staring at Min-ji's retreating figure. He hesitated for a moment. As much as she’d hate being compared to him, Min-ji shared her stubbornness with their father. Even if he stayed back to try to vouch for her character, it was just as Min-ji had said. Their father had already made his thoughts clear and wouldn’t be changing his view for the foreseeable future. With that in mind, Woojin made a decision.

Gritting his teeth, he ran after her, leaving his father behind without a word.

Min-ji continued walking, her steps purposeful and unwavering. She needed to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the mansion, to breathe freely again. But, of course, in the height of her desperation, the shrill echo of childish giggling interrupted her path.

An irritatingly familiar little girl crossed paths with her once more, and she looked just as pleased about it as Min-ji felt. "Ah—...Imode?" Mia said, coming to a stumbling stop, like a deer in headlights. She stared at Min-ji, fear evident in her eyes. Min-ji's face was dark, her emotions heavy and bitter, radiating pheromones that made Mia uncomfortable.

Min-ji looked at the girl with disgust, her voice cold and sharp. "Get out of my way," she commanded.

"I... yes," Mia stammered, taking a step back. "I'm sorr—" But before she could finish her apology, Min-ji walked away, leaving Mia standing there, her gaze fixed on the retreating figure. "Why does she always look at me like that?" she whispered to herself.

Rain poured heavily from the sky, blotting out the stars and moon behind a thick curtain of clouds. A teenage boy, his body riddled with cuts and scrapes, his clothes torn and barely clinging to him, ran desperately through the night. In the distance, a flurry of other footfalls followed him, louder and heavier than his own.

Despite the rain, their laughter echoing ominously through the narrow path. He was terrified, exhausted, but his body wouldn’t let him stop running. If they catch you, it’s all over: his mind screamed at him. His legs burned, his breath came in ragged gasps, and the slick ground threatened to send him sprawling. His pheromones, a trail of fear and adrenaline, spread through the air, guiding his pursuers closer. No matter what he did or how much he struggled, it was his own biology that would always betray him.

"Here! This way!"

A gleeful voice cut through the storm, and he ran faster, his whole body trembling. He could hear their voices getting closer, their laughter turning into shouts. In his panic, he hastily thought that going through the maze of alleys would get them off his tail, but in only enclosed his pheromones into an easy trail for his pursuers to follow. Finally, he saw bright streetlights ahead through the space between the two buildings. An exit to the open streets.

Emerging from dark space, the road was a sea of headlights. But he didn't have time to think, he just ran, blindly crossing the street. Suddenly, a blinding light from an oncoming car flashed before his eyes.

Dokja's eyes flew open, his body slick with sweat. He was panting, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. He pressed his hands to his head, trying to calm his racing heart. "It's not real... it's not real... it's just a dream," he repeated over and over, his voice a shaky whisper. He looked towards the window, the rain lashing against the glass, mirroring the storm from that night.

He shook his head, desperately trying to push the memories away. But then, a knock on the door startled him. He flinched, his hand instinctively reaching for the blanket, his body trembling. "W-Who?" he asked, his voice barely audible.

The silence from outside only heightened Dokja's anxiety. Then, a familiar voice broke through the quiet. "It's me," it said.

Dokja let out a sigh of relief, realizing it was just Joonghyun. It had completely slipped from his mind that a guest was staying at his house. "What is it?" he asked, his voice still a little shaky. The door cracked open to let Joonghun peek in.

"I made some food for you. It's already afternoon, you need to eat," Joonghyun replied.

“Noon!? Why didn’t you wake me up earlier? I have to—” But as Dokja was shoveling the blankets off of his body to jump of his bed, Joonghyun held up a hand to stop him.

“Some woman—she said she was your coworker—called to say that you didn’t need to come in today. The streets are flooded right now, so everyone was told to stay home. You came back late form work the other day: I figured you’d want the extra sleep.” He explained.

Ah, it must’ve been Sangah or Jiwon. He settled back onto the mattress, his panic draining from his body. Dokja stared at the door, then at the window. He hadn't even realized how long he’d slept, lost in his thoughts and the relentless rain. "Do you want me to bring the food here?" Joonghyun asked, sensing Dokja's hesitation.

Dokja continued to stare at the window, but then he shook his head. "No, thanks for letting me sleep in, I’ll come down soon. Just wait for me there," he said, his voice firm. He couldn't bear to look at the rain any longer, it was too reminiscent of that night, of the pain he was desperately trying to forget.

"…right, take you time," Joonghyun said, his voice gentle as he turned and walked away. Dokja lingered in the warmth of his bed for the next few minutes. The urge to go right back to sleep was strong. He’d been lucky to get a full night’s sleep for once but wasn’t even able to enjoy it. Honestly, his body and mind felt more exhausted now than it did last night when he face planted himself onto his bed. But Joonghyun was waiting for him downstairs, and his body was covered in his own sweat. So, with a heavy sigh, Dokja pulled the blankets off of his body and made his way to his bathroom.

A warm shower and a few cold splashes of water to his face did wonders. The lingering threads of dread still pulled at the edges of his mind, but at least now he felt refreshed and clean. Grabbing his cardigan and pulling it around himself for warmth, Dokja made his way downstairs. The sound of the rain following him like a persistent shadow.

As he descended the stairs, the aroma of Joonghyun's cooking filled his senses, a welcome distraction from the storm raging outside. He found Joonghyun in the living room, engrossed in a show playing on the television.

Dokja headed towards the kitchen and his eyes widened at the sight before him. There, on the counter, were burgers and fried chicken, a feast of greasy food that he had been craving for so long. Joonghyun had always made it a point to turn his nose up a junk food whenever Dokja brought it up, so he couldn’t help but wonder what brought up the inclination to cook all of this. Dokja contemplated looking back to ask the man himself, be he decided to just shrug it off.

[“—obviously I have the better grades, bug boy! Seonsaeng-nim even complimented my paper the other day!”

“That’s only because you’re the teacher’s pet, plus you’re always copying off my homework! Half of the good grades you get are because of me!"

“Maybe if you stopped bringing bugs into the classroom the teachers would like you more”

“It isn’t my fault they don’t have a good taste in animals.”

This had been going on for the past fifteen minutes, with the bickering quickly paused anytime they stumbled across a particular animal wandering the streets, whether it was a squirrel searching around for scraps of food or a lone cricket hopping around.

Their mothers or Dokja were usually around to deter them from picking up the animals from the streets, lest their bedrooms become makeshift zoos. With none of them around right then, it wouldn’t be too hard for the children to store the smaller animals in their backpacks to take home. But upon looking back, they were met with Joonghyun’s chastising glare, and reluctantly kept their hands to themselves.

Joonghyun didn’t know if he had any experience with children before, but he surprised himself with how well he handled the children. It wasn’t as if he was doing anything straining, but he really didn’t mind looking after them, pointless bickering and all. He’d go as far to say he enjoyed it, or at least was entertained. The way Yoosung and Gilyeong argued reminded him of Dokja when he was annoyed.

“Anyways, I’m working on it. All I need to do is pass the next test and then my grades are set!”

“Ahjussi said he’d only get WcDonald’s with us if we both did good. You’d better not mess this up.”
“I won’t, I won’t.”

“… rewarding children with fast food? Seems more like a punishment.”

Both children, startled, look back as they heard a new voice entering the conversation.

“Don’t butt in like that, sooty bastard! Besides, everyone knows you only go there for the toys they give.” Gilyeong retorted to Joonghyun, glaring over his shoulder at the man.

“It’s us that asked for him to take us there. Ahjussi already does so much for us, even with how busy he is with his job. We just don’t want to be too much of a bother to him,” Yoosung elaborated shyly.

While Joonghyun understood the sentiment to a certain degree, he still didn’t like the idea of such young children catching on to Dokja’s bad eating habits.

“Ahjussi seems to like eating WcDonald’s though. When he eats there his cheeks always puff up like a squirrel, it so cute!” Yoosung added.

“… really now?”]

Dokja eagerly grabbed a burger and took a bite, but the taste of something slimy completely ruined it sent a wave of disgust through him. His face contorted in a grimace, Dokja took off the bun of the burger and saw a sight that he had long dread: two tomato slices, red and juicy, fitting perfectly atop of burger patty.

Flicking the offending slices into the trashcan with a ‘good riddance’ Dokja loaded the plate with more burgers and fried chicken and walked towards the living room, where Joonghyun was lounging on the couch, his arm resting on the back. He placed the plate on the coffee table before joining Joonghyun on the couch.

"Did you already eat?"

Joonghyun nodded, his eyes returning to the television screen. "Yes," he replied, his voice as quiet as always.

Dokja tilted his head, observing Joonghyun. He realized that Joonghyun was a man of few words, always serious, his expression rarely betraying any emotion. His gaze drifted to the numerous scars and cuts that marred Joonghyun's skin. Curiosity sparked within him. He wondered about the stories behind those marks.

Dokja ate his burger, savoring the greasy goodness, and then settled down on the couch beside Joonghyun. He didn't notice Jonghyun's eyes lingering on his face before quickly turning back to the show. Both of them stared at the television screen, the flickering images providing a muted backdrop to their silence. "What are you watching?" Dokja asked between bites, his voice quiet.

"Just some tv drama.”

Dokja raised an eyebrow, an amused smile playing on his lips. "I didn’t think you’d be the type to enjoy them," he teased.

Joonghyun stared blankly at the television scene, his expression unreadable. "I'm not," he replied frankly. "I just didn't have anything to do, and this was the only thing playing that was vaguely interesting."

Dokja hummed at, grabbing another burger from the plate and removing the tomatoes in it, placing it to the side of the plate. He took a bite, leaning back against the couch. As he did, he noticed Joonghyun staring at him with a frown. He raised an eyebrow. "What?" he asked, his voice curious.

"You don't like tomatoes," Joonghyun stated more than asked, his gaze fixed on Dokja.

Dokja nodded. "Yeah," he confirmed, his voice quiet.

Joonghyun looked at him with an unimpressed expression, then shifted his attention back to the television. "No wonder you're so thin," he said, letting out a sigh.

Dokja frowned, his expression turning to annoyance. "What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of challenge.

Joonghyun gave him a side-eye, his expression unreadable. "I'm saying the truth," he replied, his voice flat. "You're too thin, and you don’t even eat your veggies properly."

Dokja gasped, his hand flying to his chest as if he had been struck. "For your information, I only took out the tomatoes. I’m still eating the lettuce and onions that you put in there just fine," he said, his voice rising in indignation. He even opened the burger just to point to lettuce and onions still sitting innocently inside, as if presenting evidence in court.

Joonghyun looked at him with a flat expression, then sighed and shook his head, returning his attention to the television and changing the channel to search for something better to watch. He would just pretend he hadn't seen the large stash of cup noodles sitting on the cabinet when he first entered the kitchen.

[Technological Developments: The gaming world is abuzz with excitement as Murim, known for its innovative and immersive gaming experiences, has announced a groundbreaking collaboration with tech company Minosoft. This unexpected partnership has sent ripples through the industry, leaving players and tech enthusiasts alike eager to uncover the details behind this collaboration.]

The news on the television caught their attention, drawing their gazes to the screen. A shot of the Murim Conglomerate headquarters, a towering forty-story skyscraper, filled the screen. Dokja couldn't help but be awestruck by its sheer size, the building a testament to the company's power and influence.

[Murim has consistently pushed boundaries in the gaming world, delivering titles that seamlessly blend captivating narratives with groundbreaking technology. Their commitment to providing users with unparalleled experiences has earned them a loyal following. The collaboration with Minosoft, a company renowned for its technological prowess, promises to further elevate Murim's already impressive legacy. The details of this collaboration are still under wraps, but speculation is running rampant.]

The television screen shifted, now displaying the Microsoft headquarters. The interest that had piqued Dokja after seeing the Murim headquarters immediately disintegrated into something bitter, the sight of his workplace triggering an instant stress reflex in Dokja’s mind.

"That's the company where you're working, right?" Joonghyun asked, his gaze fixed on the television scene.

"Yup," Dokja nodded, his attention now back onto the food on his plate.

[A few of days ago, one of the directors of Murim Conglomerate was seen entering the Minosoft headquarters, hinting at discussions of the collaboration entering their final stage,]

the newscaster continued. The screen shifted again, showing a slightly blurry picture of a suited man with tall, broad shoulders entering the Minosoft building. Dokja recognized him instantly – Yoo Woojin.

Joonghyun leaned back, his gaze fixed on the man on the screen. A sense of familiarity washed over him, as if he had seen this face before. He tried to place it, but the memory remained elusive.

[Will this partnership result in a new generation of games that redefine the very nature of gaming? Or will it lead to technological advancements that revolutionize the way we interact with the digital world? The gaming community eagerly awaits the unveiling of this exciting new chapter—]

The newscaster's voice faded into the background as Joonghyun's head began to throb. He grabbed his head, his eyes squeezed shut, what had started as a dull ring in the back of his head intensifying with each passing second. He began panting, his breaths coming in short, ragged gasps as the pain intensified. It felt like someone was taking a hammer to his skull, trying to crack it open until his brain spilled out.

He tried to open his eyes, but the ambient light of the room had proved too overwhelming, blinding him and only increasing the pain. Then, a flash of memories, fragmented and blurry, flooded his mind.

"Oppa!, take a look at this!"

.

.

.

"Remember *********, this is your fate, you ne—"

.

.

.

"Because I hate everything about both of you!"

.

.

.

The faces were blurry, the words garbled and incomprehensible. The pain intensified, a relentless assault on his senses. Then, darkness descended, and the only thing he saw was Dokja's face, etched with worry as he reached out to him.

.

.

.

.

The camera opened on two figures standing awkwardly side-by-side. The woman, radiating enthusiasm, clearly relished the spotlight. The man, on the other hand, looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.

"Greetings everyone, and welcome to Talk to Maxine!" the woman announced, her smile wide and bright. "I'm your host, Maxine!" She gestured towards her companion with a flourish. "And here is my co-host, Bihyung."

Bihyung, his face a picture of forced cheer, adjusted his microphone. "Hi..." he muttered, his voice lacking any genuine enthusiasm.

Maxine, undeterred by Bihyung's lack of enthusiasm, pressed on. "So, Bihyung, what do you think of chapter eleven so far? Things are ramping up aren’t they?" she asked, her smile unwavering.

Bihyung rolled his eyes, his frustration evident. "Honestly, I don't know what the hell is happening," he grumbled.

Maxine, oblivious to his sarcasm, beamed at the camera. "Well, it's the start of the main plot, so of course, you and the readers won't understand what's going on. But don't worry, the plot is getting good!"

"Yeah, because you're going to make it angsty," Bihyung retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Maxine glared at Bihyung, her smile replaced by a frown. "What, am I wrong?" he challenged, his voice laced with a hint of amusement. "You like writing angst, and you think I don't know what you're going to do?" He disappeared for a moment, returning with a manuscript in hand. "Look at this! This is what you're planning, and of course, it's angst! And don't forget that you're going to put c—" He didn't get to finish his sentence before Maxine clamped her hand over his mouth.

"Don't you dare finish that!" she yelled, her voice sharp with panic. "You can't just spoil the plot! Especially that!"

Bihyung glared at her, his eyes narrowed. He pried her hand away. "But it's true! You promised everyone fluff, what happened to that?!"

"But it is fluff! They're living a domestic life!" Maxine insisted, her voice losing its usual confidence.

"Yeah, for now," Bihyung countered, his arms crossed, his gaze unwavering. Maxine couldn't meet his eyes, her silence a testament to his accusation.

Bihyung smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "See, I was ri—" He didn't get to finish his sentence before Maxine loudly clapped her hands together.

"That's for now, guys! If you have something you like to ask to us, please leave a comment. Bye!" she said into the microphone, her voice laced with panic. Bihyung wrenched her hand away, and the camera screen abruptly went black

Chapter Text

Chapter 12: Lying and Laughter

"See, Hades? I'm just a little bit under the weather, it's not that serious," the middle-aged woman sighed, allowing herself to lean her body against her husband.

"I know, my dear, but it's good to be sure," her husband replied, his hands gently rubbing circles into her shoulders.

His wife just sighed again, unable to argue with his concern. Persephone couldn't blame him, after all, she had almost fainted. It was luck that Hades had been there to take her to the emergency room, otherwise she would’ve gone back to her work like nothing happened once she woke up. "You need to rest," he said, his voice filled with concern. "You're stressing yourself out for the company."

"It’s an important time for us right now, with the third quarter coming to an end. I needed to give my all,” Persephone stopped in her tracks and looking up at her husband. She pointed to the dark circles under his eyes. "And take a look at yourself. If I need to rest, so do you."

Hades opened his mouth to argue, but his wife cut him off. "No buts," she said firmly. "We're both going to rest for two days. We both need to take a step away and recover our sleep, let Bihyung handle the company for that time being." And with that, she continued walking, her decision final.

Hades just shook his head in exasperation and continued trailing beside his wife. Persephone turned her head to him, her expression slightly softened. "Of course, make sure that Namwoon and Dokja don't know anything about this," she continued, "You know that they wo—" her sentence was cut short as she saw a particular person emerging from one of the hospital’s consultation rooms in the distance, his eyes glued to his phone.

Hades frowned, confused by his wife's sudden pause. He then followed her gaze, and his eyes widened in surprise.

"Dokja?"

Persephone's eyebrows scrunched together as she stared at her son in the distance. "Why’s he here, did something happen?" she murmured under her breath, her voice laced with apprehension. Her son had unfortunately their knack for overworking, all while none of their work ethic was passed onto their other son. While she was fortunate enough to have Hades to watch out for her, Dokja lived alone. He had tried reassuring her that he had a few friends that kept him company, but her son had always been one to keep his problems to himself. He never wanted to burden anyone else with his problems, it was just how he was.
For him to have brought himself here, whatever happened must’ve been urgent. Especially with how he usually loathed visiting hospitals, even just for checkups.

Persephone started making her way towards him, her steps purposeful. Dokja, oblivious to her approach, remained engrossed in his phone. Hades followed his wife, similarly worried.

"Dokja, my dear?" Persephone called out to him, her voice soft but firm.

Dokja looked up, his face going from confused to surprised in an instant. "Mom? Dad?" he exclaimed. He shot a glance at the door behind him, then back at his parents. "What are you guys doing here?" he asked, a hint of anxiety creeping into his voice.

Of course this couldn’t escape Persephone’s watchful surveillance, and her suspicions only grew. "I should be the one asking that, young man," she replied, her voice cool. She squared her shoulders and straightened herself out authoritatively, though her dress shirt was slightly wrinkled where she fiddled anxiously with the edges, giving away her concern. "Did something happen to you that we need to be worried about? I know you don’t usually tell us about these kinds of things, but please, Dokja, be honest with us."

"Oh, I'm here because I saved someone, and now they're living in my house rent-free. Oh, and they're a dominant alpha who lost all of his memories, and whose background I have no idea about. He fainted an hour ago so I just took him here to get it checked out,” …was exactly what Dokja didn’t say. No, that wasn't going to fly, especially with his mom. "I'm... with a friend?" he said, hoping the vague answer would suffice.

"Are you asking me, or telling me?" Persephone questioned, raising an eyebrow at him. She glanced at the door, her eyes narrowing. "Are you hiding something from me?"

Dokja's eyes widened in alarm. "Of course not," he rushed, his voice a little too high-pitched. "I'm with Sooyoung, you know her. She tripped over some of her manuscripts and hurt her ankle. I’m just here to help her walk and keep company." Dokja massaged his nape nervously, his teeth clenched as he spoke whatever words came to mind. ‘Haaaa? You really think I’m that stupid, huh rat?’ he could clearly hear Han Sooyoung’s indignant voice yelling in his mind. But for now, all he could do is send a silent apology to her. Persephone couldn’t know the truth, not when she would kill him if she knew. Then she’d move on to Joonghyun if Hades hadn’t gotten him by then.

Luckily for him Persephone seemed to calm down slightly, her suspicion easing a little at the familiar name. "Yeah, her girlfriend was away at the time, so I was the one who had to help get her here. How about you? What are you doing here?" he asked, taking the opportunity to change the subject. Persephone seemed reluctant to do so, but she obliged anyways.

“Oh, I was a bit overdue for my routine checkup, and your father insisted I come, but the doctor said that it was nothing to—"

"Your mother nearly fainted this morning, so I had to rush her over here. It turned out she's been overworking herself," Hades explained, his voice gentle. He saw his wife turn her head to him, her glare sharp, but he didn’t back down, "I'm sorry, my dear, but our son needs to know, especially when it's your health."

"Mom..." Dokja sighed out, worried. "And yet you’re always reminding me how bad I am at taking care of myself."

"I know, don’t think your father didn’t say the exact same thing," she grumbled. "I just wanted to take some of the burden along with your father. He's been stretching himself thin and even losing sleep for the company." Hades looked at his wife with a pout, if the word ‘pout’ suited a man as intimidating as Hades. She raised an eyebrow at him, her expression a silent challenge: ‘If I'm going down, you're going down with me.’

"You too, Hades?" Dokja scolded lightly. "Both of you really need to rest. Let Bihyung handle the company for the time being. He's the company secretary for a reason, I'm sure he’ll manage just fine while you two recover." (No, he won't.)

"Your father said the same thing," Persephone huffed, her voice tinged with exasperation.

"Then it's settled. Rest for the time being, both of you need it. The company won't crumble just because you choose yourselves. I’ll make Namwoon check up on you two so you don’t do anything."

"Really now, pitting your own brother against us. I suppose we don’t a choice in the matter," Persephone conceded, her shoulders slumping slightly. Dokja turned toward his father, his arms crossed as if daring Hades to argue back. But the man solemnly put his hands up in surrender, promising to make sure both he and his wife would relax for the following days.

"Well, with that out of the way we’ll be on our way out. Oh, but before we do, why don’t we put in a quick greeting to Sooyoung? It’s been quite a while since we saw the young woman," Persephone turned towards the room, ready to greet her, but Dokja hastily stopped her by stepping between his mother and the door.

"Mom, she's talking with the doctor now. We probably shouldn’t disturb them," he said, forcing a smile.

Persephone stared at him, her skepticism flaring up with red lights going off in the back her head. But in the end, she let it go with a sigh. She’d given her son enough flack for not maintaining his health only to do the same and make him worry. For now, Persephone chose to show a little bit of mercy to him. Glancing to her side, she could tell that Hades shared her wariness about their son’s demeanor. But after a few silent looks between the two, they came to an agreement. "Fine but make sure to take care of her." Hades' phone rang, and excused himself to go answer it, walking off to a more secluded corner of the hall. Persephone turned back to Dokja

"Just because you’ve caught us lacking doesn’t mean you can go working yourself into a grave, understand?" Just like that, Persephone was back to her lecture mode, a pointed but playful glare at Dokja making him give a clumsy smile. “We’ll send over Kim Namwoon just the same as you.”

“Haha, I won’t I promise. Believe or not I’ve been doing better these days!” Mostly thanks to Joonghyun forcing him to go to sleep early and hiding his cup noodles to feed him home cooked meals. From here on out he’d probably have to compile a list of Joonghyun’s positive traits. His parents finding out about Joonghyun was an inevitability, though he was reluctant to admit it. There would be no excuse in the world that would make Hades and Persephone accepting of Joonghyun’s presence, but at the very least Dokja could make an argument for him so that his parents shouldn’t murder the dominant alpha right off the bat.

“Hmm, you, actually being healthy? I’m not sure I can believe that,” Persephone joked with a smile. She was about to say something else when Hades’ heavy steps interrupted her. His expression was solemn. "We need to go," he announced, his tone leaving no room for argument. Persephone’s expression settled into something more serious from her prior tone. With a nod, Persephone and Hades said their goodbyes to their son.

"Alright, remember to take it easy, okay?" Dokja said.

"Of course, you too," Persephone said, kissing him on the cheek. "Say hi to Sooyoung for us, okay?" He nodded, his heart pounding. With a last lingering look at the door, they turned and walked away, with Dokja watching them until they disappeared around the corner. He let out a breath, his shoulders slumping with relief.

"I almost thought I was going to die there," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

He wasn't embarrassed to admit his fear. Hades was intimidating, sure, but Persephone? If Hades could strike fear into everyone’s hearts from just a glare, then Persephone could bring them to their knees and make them beg for mercy without so much as lifting a finger. He could just imagine how she’d react if she ever found out the truth. She knew about his history with alphas, but then to discover he was living with one? World War III would break out in their house. Dokja shuddered at the thought.

The door opened, and Joonghyun emerged, followed by the doctor. "—nothing much that we can make of this just yet. All I can recommend is to make sure not to stress yourself mentally or overly exert yourself," the doctor said, his voice gentle but firm. Joonghyun just grunted, and the doctor sighed, shaking his head.

The doctor then turned Dokja, a wry smile on his face. "Dokja-ssi, please remind your alpha to not stress himself, alright? I don’t have much hope that he’ll listen to me."

Dokja's body stiffened. Joonghyun, beside him, raised an eyebrow at the doctor, his expression somewhat piqued but still mostly unbothered. "We—um—ehem...we're not in a relationship, Taeyung-nim. I’m just his benefactor until he fully recovers from his injuries." Dokja explained meekly.

The doctor blinked a couple of times, then laughed it off. "Ah, my bad. I’m sorry for assuming, but I suppose I should’ve known from your choker," he said, his gaze falling on Dokja's white choker.

Traditionally, rings were worn to denote marital partners. But when it came to omegas, it was quickly found out that a mere ring wouldn’t fend off against rabid alphas or even betas in more desperate situations. So, rather than rings, omegas started using their chokers to denote their mated status. Black and white stood for mated and unmated respectively.

While chokers were always worn by omegas to deter unwanted mating bites, the standard chokers worn during present times functioned as suppressants and pheromone blockers. They weren’t as effective as suppressant pills in preventing heat cycles, but they were a preferred alternative for the lack of adverse side effects. Additionally, omegas were less compelled to abuse their pills to the point of overdosing.

These kinds of chokers were made somewhat recently, cleared safe for omega usage less than a decade ago, but once they were made available to the public they spread like wildfire. Some workplaces even made it mandatory for omegas to wear such chokers.

For the most part omegas could choose whether to wear a choker or not, even when mated, but many preferred to do so. It was like a silent declaration, telling everyone they belonged to someone. Even omegas who were already married but not yet mated to their partner could wear black chokers.

"The nurses were gossiping about how much of a catch both of you made. I guess I couldn’t help but be caught up in the gossip," the doctor continues, his voice light and friendly. Dokja was speechless, his face burning with embarrassment. He faked a cough to hide his blush. "But as I'm saying, please make sure not to let him become too stressed, and make sure he’s in a comfortable environment," the doctor continued, turning his attention back to Joonghyun.

"Yes, I will," Dokja replied, his expression unreadable.

The doctor nodded. "Alright, that will be all for now. But make sure to go back in two weeks for another checkup."

"Yes, we will...thank you doctor," Dokja said, his voice barely a whisper. The doctor nodded at them and returned to his office, leaving Dokja and Joonghyun alone. The atmosphere between them was thick, heavy with an awkward silence. It was... weird.

"Uh..." Dokja stammered, unsure what to say. As useful as chokers were in controlling his pheromones, they had one flaw that couldn’t be overlooked: it made it difficult to hide your status as an omega. Not that Dokja had really made an effort to, but still. It was a normal part of his life by now, going to work or walking through the streets and sharing an inconspicuous glance or nod at those who just happened to meet his eyes when he looked up from his phone. Strangers would give their own passing nods and start turning to go back to their business, only to glance down for a second, their eyes landing on his choker.

Their expressions could morph into several different things: a sneer, a pitying grimace, a flirtatious smirk. All Dokja could do was look back at his phone or turn and walk away before they could do or say anything else. It was a rare thing for anyone to have sincere consideration for omegas. Disingenuous sympathy was just as degrading as open mocking. Even between omegas it seemed like it was a dog-eat-dog world. The constant comparing, preening, fights over potential mates… it was hard for Dokja to have any hope in people these days.

Whether it was alphas, betas, or omegas, it was all the same. Love just wasn't for him.

People like his family, Sooyoung, Sangah, Jiwon… he counted them as blessings he was lucky enough to stumble on and kept them close to his heart. Beyond his small circle of connections, any expectations he may have had for everyone else crumbled to dust. Some people had the audacity to tell him straight to his face how ‘unomega-like’ he acted.

“Omegas like you are supposed to be open and sociable. Not like you, who always closes yourself off from everyone! It’d do you good to fix that attitude of yours. How do you expect to find a mate at this point?”

When the doctor had first implied that he and Joonghyun were together, Dokja’s first inclination had been towards irritation. ‘Ah, of course he would insist that I belonged to an alpha’ Dokja had thought. But his irritation had started to fade away as he processed the doctor’s words a bit more. The doctor hadn’t meant it any sort of demeaning way, just a passing misunderstanding that anyone would’ve made.

Dokja had been the one to take Joonghyun to the hospital, so of course people would guess they’d be close in some way. Their respective subgenders had only enforced that idea.

Processing the fact that the nurses were apparently talking about how much of a catch he was really turned around his emotions. Embarrassment flooded his head. There had never been anyone to look past his omega status , let alone judge his attractiveness as a person before.

So, there he was, standing dumbfounded in the middle of the hallway, trying to get his head back on straight as Joonghyun silently looked on at his embarrassment.

He looked up at Joonghyun hesitantly. "Let's go?" he asked, hoping to break the tension.

Joonghyun stared at him, his gaze intense, as if reading his thoughts. Dokja felt even more awkward under his scrutiny. Finally, Joonghyun nodded, his voice low. "Right. Let's go." He turned and started walking.

“…”

“…”

Dokja followed, the silence between them thick. Racking his head for anything to say that would get rid of the mounting awkwardness, he turned up empty. There was no telling what was running through Joonghyun’s mind, his face back to the blank stoicism that it always bore. He hadn’t commented anything, nor did he give much of a reaction. Maybe Dokja was just overthinking things. But how could he not? This is the first time anything like this has ever happened! Amidst his stewing thoughts, Joonghyun turned towards him.

"Is the thought of me being your alpha really that baffling?"

Dokja almost snapped his neck with how quickly he turned to Joonghyun.

"I-uh, w-wuh? " Was his very intelligent response.

"Just think about it; you’re the breadwinner, going off to your office job every week and working grueling hours to rake in your paycheck. Then there’s me, the loving housewife who spends his day cooking home-made meals and nagging you to be healthy. “We’re already halfway there to being a couple, " Joonghyun continued, his gaze unwavering.

“…”

Mouth gaping, Dokja stared speechlessly at Joonghyun, desperately searching his face for any sign that he was joking. Joonghyun stared right back, not one crack in his façade betraying his seriousness. A few seconds passed, until finally the twitch of the corner of his lips gave him away.

"No, you—" Joonghyun started, then let out a snicker. His shoulders subtly shook with mirth as he continued to silently laugh. Dokja looked adorable when he was embarrassed, his face flushed a bright red. It was almost irresistible. Joonghyun had wanted to erase the awkwardness between them, and this seemed to be working. But Dokja was just too cute to look at.

“Oi, Joonghyun, what the hell possessed you to say something like that? You can’t just laugh it off like that!” Dokja cried, appalled by Joonghyun’s gall. ‘This man, saying something so outrageous and then brushing it off with the most attractive laugh he’d ever seen. Handsome people really had it all,’ Dokja thought to himself.

“My bad,” Joonghyun apologized. Its sincerity was questionable with how the man was still wearing his amused smirk. “The face you were making was cute, I couldn’t help but tease you.”

Dokja’s cheeks continued to burn. He buried his face in his hands, unable to meet Joonghyun's eyes. His ears and face felt like they were on fire. The retort he wanted to let out turned into a whine.

“… loving housewife my ass. You’re lucky your cooking is good.”

Joonghyun just laughed, a low, rumbling sound that sent shivers down Dokja's spine. He was definitely enjoying this, like the sadist he was.

What neither of them noticed the three nurses watching them from the hallway, their expressions deadpan.

"I came here to work, not to be slapped with the fact that I'm single, damn it," one of them grumbled, taking a bite of her banana.

"Where can I even find a relationship like that... fucking hell," the short-haired nurse muttered, his gaze fixed on the two flirting.

"Definitely not in ER," the other nurse sighed, shaking her head. They all looked at each other, a shared sense of frustration and longing fueling their camaraderie.

"They all look the same, can we just go to the swing-set already?" Yoosung whined, crossing her arms and glaring down at Gilyeong. For the past twenty minutes he’s been squatting on the ground, his eyes glued to the bush in front of him, not even blinking.

Gilyeong rolled his eyes at her. "I helped you look for rabbits the other day AND got in trouble afterward for being covered in mud, don’t forget your end of the deal. We aren’t stopping until teacher calls us back in," he said, his gaze fixed on the leafhopper on the leaf right in front of his eyes. It flapped its wings at him, and Gilyeong smiled. "Look at them! They're so cute!"

Yoosung cringed away from him. "Blegh, as if! They can’t even do anything interesting, how can you spend all day looking at them," she said, her voice laced with disgust.

Gilyeong looked at her, annoyance flaring up. "Of course you won't understand. You don't have any taste!"

"Me? Look at yourself, bugs are disgusting!" Yoosung yelled back.

Gilyeong's face flushed red. "You’re just as lame as everyone else! Everyone hates bugs for no reason; they do more to help the world than your stupid rabbits do!" he argued, his voice firm.

"No! You're the one who can't accept when you’re wrong!" Yoosung glanced sideways at one of their classmates in the distance, who was sitting quietly on a nearby swing set.

"Even she would agree with me!"

Gilyeong crossed his arms, his expression defiant. "Of course, she would. Like I said, everyone hates bugs for no reason."

Yoosung scoffed, grabbing Gilyeong wrist before running towards the girl. “You’re just mad because you know I’m right,” she taunted over her shoulder.

“Yeah right,” Gilyeong bit back, speeding up until he was the one dragging Yoosung along.

"Hey you!" he called out The girl in the swing stopped, her gaze turning to them. Gilyeong and Yoosung immediately stopped in their tracks, their faces instantly drained of color. It was Yoo Mia, the girl with the bodyguards, the girl everyone whispered about. Some said she was the daughter of gangsters; others said her family was one of the wealthiest in Korea. Whatever the truth, she was intimidating, her gaze dangerous, her expression judgmental.

She didn’t need to say anything to make everyone around her back off, a glare from her was enough to make anyone feel small. Even the teachers didn’t dare to cross her.

"What?" Mia demanded, her eyebrow raised. The two children felt a chill run down their spines.

"Uh..." Gilyeong stammered, looking at Yoosung for help. She returned his gaze, equally lost for words.

Mia tilted her head, looking impatiently at the two children. "Are you both going to stand there, or do you have something to say?"

"Uhh... w-what kind of animals do you like?" Yoosung had gathered the courage to sputter out, though the end of her question sounding unsure. Her grip around Gilyeong arm had tightened, turning clammy. The boy couldn’t blame her, not when he was so nervous himself. Mia frowned at them, her confusion evident.

"What?" she said, her voice flat.

Yoosung looked at Mia, her eyes wide. Mia’s stare bore onto her like a physical weight, and Yoosung felt like if they wasted anymore of the girl’s time, something bad would happen. She rubbed her neck nervously. "It's okay if you don't wanna answer. We'll ju—"

"Cats."

"Eh?"

Mia looked at her, her expression unchanged. "I like cats," she repeated, her voice matter-of-fact.

Yoosung blinked a couple of times, surprised.

She couldn't believe Mia had actually answered. She'd expected something more sarcastic, or maybe outright mocking. "That’s…that's a good choice. Cats are pretty!" she said encouragingly, trying to sound casual.

"Of course they are, I said it so it’s true!" Mia proclaimed rather assertively. Then she turned to Yoosung, "How about the two of you?"

Yoosung looked at Gilyeong, realizing she'd forgotten he was even there. She turned back to Mia. "I like dogs... while this kid..." she gestured over to Gilyeoung, her face turning judgmental. "Bugs... he likes bugs," she said, her voice laced with disdain.

"Hey, no need to look at me like that!" Gilyeong defended himself, stomping his foot into the ground.

Mia frowned at him. "Seriously? Bugs are super weird."

"I know right, that's what I'm saying to him!" Yoosung nodded in agreement.

Gilyeong rolled his eyes. "Both of you sound like broken records. Hyung said it's an interesting choice of animal!"

"Please, Ahjushi is just trying to cheer you up. It doesn't mean he actually means it."

"You're just jealous!"

"Why would I be? I'm just saying the truth!"

“Pfft, haha!" The two children both stopped glaring at each other as they heard the sound of laughter. They turned their heads to see Mia in a fit of giggles. Both of them blinked in confusion. She always had this wall built around her, a barrier that kept everyone at bay. Seeing her like this was a startling reminder that she was also just a child like them.

"You two are so dramatic!" Mia snickered. Her eyes were crinkled and her cheeks were red from her laughter fit. "You’re like cats and dogs, bickering at each other like that,"

Gilyeong and Yoosung's faces turned beet red. "NO WE AREN'T/ AS IF!" they both shouted, their voices overlapping. This only made Mia laugh harder, making the two of them all the more embarrassed.

Just then the bell rang, signaling the end of break time. The other students in the playground started reluctantly shuffling their way back to the classrooms, the teachers standing by the doors to usher everyone back in. With a small jump Mia got off of the swing, patting down her skirt. "Let's go," she motioned , heading in the same direction as the other students

Gilyeong and Yoosung looked at each other, unsure. "Are you talking to us?" He asked, pointing a finger at both of them.

"Well duh," she said, tilting her head at them. "Unless you see someone else here that I might be referring too?”

Both of them shook their heads, dumbfounded. "N-No..." Gilyeong muttered hesitantly.

"Then come on before the seonsaeng-nim looks for us." Mia said, grabbing both of their hands. As Yoo Mia towed them along behind her, Gilyeong and Yoosung looking at each other, wondering how they’d gotten to this point so suddenly.

It felt weird walking together with Mia, the thought of them unintentionally angering her and facing her death glare was a bit terrifying, and neither of them would know what to do if it turned out that all the rumors about her were true.

But, at the same time, who were they to judge her like that?

Dokja had taken them around the city a few times before, and they’d seen the looks that the strangers gave to him. Seeing a man with a choker, accompanied by two children that looked completely different from him and each other with no alpha in sight. Dokja had just smiled and laughed it off for their sakes, but it was still hard to hold back their snarls. After a few times of that happening, the children were more careful of where they asked Dokja to take them. Still, the resentment for those people ran deep.

When they went to their mothers to complain about it, asking if there was anything they could do to help their guardian, they were met with regretful smiles. That night the both of them were sat down for a discussion in their respective homes.

“It’s simply the reality that omegas like Dokjaa-ssi are faced with” Giyeong’s mother had explained to him bitterly. “It’s cruel and unfair, the last thing the Dokja-ssi deserves after all he’s done for us. But the world will always make unfair assumptions. That’s why we must always try our best to treat Dokja and other omegas with respect and protect them from bad people like the one you saw.”

“But… what if I turn out to be an omega, or Yoosung? Would we be too weak to protect Hyung? Would we also need to be protected?” To that, his mother lightly shook her head and pulled him in close.

“I said that we should protect omegas, not that they are weak. Dokja-ssi is able to handle himself just fine without out meddling…except when it comes to his health,” she lightly joked, before getting back to the topic at hand, “Omegas… everyday they gather the strength to fight the expectations thrown at them. But there comes a time when they get tired of having to be strong. When that time comes, we’ll be there to support them”

“And no matter if you’re an omega or not, you will always be my child. No matter what, I will always protect you with my body and soul, even if you don’t need me to,” his mother finished, wrapping her arms tightly around her son. Gilyeong reciprocated in silence, needing some time to process all the information that was just given to him.

The next day, when he came into class, Gilyeong took one look at Yoosung’s serious expression and knew that they were on the same page.

And as they glanced at each other from behind Yoo Mia, just like all those months ago, the both of them made a silent agreement.

Mia’s arms were beginning to get tired of dragging two children by their arms. Both of them had been taking reluctant steps, dragging their feet along the ground. But right as she was about to snap at the to hurry it up, the strain in her arms lightened as the two of them quickly shuffled forward to walk side by side with her. Yoosung and Gilyeong smiled at her brightly, the tension that had strained their faces earlier replaced with more genuine expressions. Yoo Mia didn’t know what happened to cause their sudden change in demeanor, but she appreciated it nonetheless.

And if throughout the day the students started a rumor about Mia coercing them into hanging out with her and the teachers shot Gilyeong and Yoosung worried glances, none of the thee children paid them any mind.

Chapter Text

Chapter 13: Stripper

The sky was dark, devoid of stars, as if a storm was brewing. But for some, the night was young. The bar's lights blazed brightly, and the sounds of music and laughter spilled out onto the street. A car pulled over to the side, and Yoo Min-ji stepped out. She was dressed in business casual clothes, her hair pulled back in a messy bun. The bouncers saw her approach, nodded in recognition, and opened the door for her.

The music was deafening, a wall of sound that forced people to shout over each other to be heard. Couples made out in dimly lit corners, their bodies swaying to the rhythm. Both on the dance floor and their elevated stages, strippers moved with practiced ease, their bodies glistening under the strobe lights as they accepted tips from eager patrons. Scanning the room, Min-ji quickly realized her target wasn't on the stage, and her gaze went to sweep over the crowd.

And—there she was. Long, wavy brown hair became a beacon in the flashing lights, framing a face that was animated with laughter as she talked to a man at the bar counter. They were leaning just a little too close to each other to be considered casual, her smile captivating, her words playful. Min-ji watched them for a moment, a flicker of something crossing her features before she started walking towards them.

The woman, still engaged in conversation, caught sight of her and her smile widened. "Min-ji!" she exclaimed, instantly forgetting the man she was talking to. She practically pushed him away to run towards Min-ji, throwing her arms around her in a warm embrace.

"You didn't say you were coming here tonight!" the woman said, pouting childishly as she looked up at Min-ji.

Min-ji smiled, her hand cupping Ha-eun's cheek. "It was a surprise, Ha-eun..."

Ha-eun beamed back at her, leaning up to kiss her cheek. But before she could, a voice interrupted them. "Hey" they both turned to see the man Ha-eun had been talking to earlier. He had a smug expression on his face. "I was talking with her first," he said, his voice laced with arrogance.

Ha-eun rolled her eyes. "Oh, please, back off. You didn’t even have to pay me for my time," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Then, she hugged Min-ji again, squeezing her tightly. "You can go now, can't you see we’re busy?" she teased, her voice more annoyed than playful.

The man's face flushed red with anger. He grabbed Ha-eun's wrist tightly, his grip bruising. "Look woman, I don't give a fuck what you two were going to do,” he said, his voice a low growl. "But I was talking to you first. I expect my turn with you to be fulfilled, that’s your job, isn’t it!"

"Let go of me, you fucking asshole!" Ha-eun yelled, her voice sharp and filled with fury. Heads turned in their direction, drawn by the commotion.

"Shut the hell up, I’ll even throw in a nice tip, so do your work!" he spat back.

"With you? Hell no!" Ha-eun was about to kick him when a fist connected with his jaw, sending him reeling. He landed on the cold floor, his nose bleeding.

"She told you to let go, asshole," Min-ji talked down at him, her voice calm but deadly.

"You fucking bitch, how dare you!" he snarled, trying to rise. But Min-ji placed her foot on his chest, her heel digging into his sternum. "Get off me!" he yelled.

Min-ji didn't move. She pressed down harder. "Why don’t you act like a man? Or are you just an animal who always thinks about his dick?" she said, her voice dripping with icy disdain.

Pheromones, thick and potent, laced the air, making some of the onlookers cover their noses. It was an alpha scent, raw and powerful, amplified by Min-ji's anger. The man laughed, a sarcastic, mocking sound. "Why do you even care? It's always easy for you alphas, especially with omegas like that bitch, huh?" he sneered.

Min-ji's anger flared even hotter, making her press down harder. "It’s because not one cares to associate with animals like you."

The man opened his mouth to retort, but before he could utter a word, a voice boomed, "WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE?" They all turned to see a blonde woman stomping towards them, irritation written all over her face.

"Anna..." Ha-eun said, her voice a mix of relief and apprehension. Anna Croft, the owner of the establishment, had arrived.

Min-ji removed her foot from the man's chest. She looked at Anna with a bored expression. "I asked a question. Is anyone gonna answer or do you all want to get kicked?" Anna repeated, her gaze sweeping over the scene.

The man stood up, his face contorted with rage. He pointed at Min-ji. "One of your patrons just punched me in the face!" he yelled. Min-ji just rolled her eyes at him, her disdain evident.

Anna's gaze shifted to Min-ji. "Do you have something to say for yourself?"

"With an attitude like that, he was bound to get punched sooner or later. Ha-eun will back me up."

Anna sighed, her gaze shifting to Ha-eun, who was shifting awkwardly to the side. Ha-eun fidgeted with her fingers, her eyes darting between Min-ji and Anna. "That bastard was harassing me, so Min-ji punched him for me," she explained, her voice hesitant.

"Hey! I was just talking to her, but that bitch interfered! She should be doing her job!" the man yelled, his voice filled with anger. Anna sighed, then gestured to the bouncers who moved quickly, grabbing the man's arms. "Hey! Hey!! What are you doing you assholes?!" he yelled, struggling against their grip. He looked at Anna, infuriated. "Let go of me! Do you know who I am?!"

Anna smiled. "It looks like you’ve had enough drinks for tonight, and are in need of a doctor, sir. I will graciously allow you to be escorted out before you cause anymore trouble for my patrons," The man stared at her, dumbfounded. "Take him out, now," she ordered coldly. The bouncers nodded, and immediately began dragging the man out, his shouts and curses echoing through the bar as they dragged him away.

Anna turned to the crowd, her smile genuine this time. "I'm so sorry about that, everyone. Drinks are on the house tonight!" she announced, her voice carrying over the excited cheers that erupted from the crowd. They had already forgotten the incident, their attention drawn back to the music and the lively atmosphere.

Anna then turned her attention back to the two women. "Ha-eun, your shift is over for the night. And for god’s sake, tell your girlfriend to not go around punching people," Anna sighed, exasperated.

Ha-eun's face broke into a wide smile. "Thank you!" she said, her voice filled with relief. With a nod, Anna turned to leave, leaving Min-ji with a sharp looked before she disappeared into the crowd.

Ha-eun looked at Min-ji, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She grabbed her wrist, her grip warm and eager. "Let's go!" she squealed, looking forward to spending time with her lover, the events of the night fading into the background.

But they didn't even realize that somewhere at the end of the bar, a pair of red eyes watched them leave. A man, sitting at a table with a newspaper obscuring his face - a strange sight in a bar - lowered the paper, his gaze fixed on the two women. Quick to follow them, he snapped a photo of the women getting into a black car before it pulled away, leaving him standing alone on the sidewalk.

He sent the picture to someone with a short message.

Bihyung
- *photo*
- Bitch, I know you’re gonna be all over this

Rascal
- Oh...😏😏
- Great job for doing your job, my servant

Bihyung
-I'm not your fucking servant

Rascal
-Yeah, yeah
- *photo*

Bihyung
-Why are you at the airport?!

Rascal
-Oh well my dear actress has a photoshoot there so here I am😍

-Wait for me, we're gonna need to talk

Bihyung
-What do you mean?!
-Hey!
-HEY!

Joonghyun stared at his reflection in the mirror, his brow furrowed in concentration. What stared back was the image of the man he'd seen on television. He knew he knew that man, he was sure of it. The shape of their faces, the eyes, the way their wavy hair fell - it was like looking at a distorted reflection of himself. He needed to talk to him, to understand the connection.

The problem was how to go about it. He glanced down at the scars that marred his body, the memory of the pain still vivid. The healed wound on his stomach was a constant reminder of a past he couldn’t grasp. The answers were right there, and Joonghyun knew he couldn't wait any longer to find them.

How could he even approach the man? From the new report, he appeared to be an affluent businessman, constantly moving about and surrounded by bodyguards and other people of statues.

Why would anyone allow some random amnesiac to even approach him? Besides the scar on his stomach, the only foundation that Joonghyun had for what exactly happened to him was Dokja’s words. Dokja had only said that he’d found him lying in a pool of blood in front of his home, with a long trail of blood indicating that Joonghyun had come a long way from where he’d originally been injured. He had no idea who Joonghyun was, or what'd happened. While it was possible that he was just involved in some freak accident, Joonghyun had a strong feeling that there had to be a reason behind what had happened to him. He just knew that his instincts were right, but the pieces just wouldn't fit together.

But, if he was right, that meant that there were people actively trying to hurt him, kill him even.
What if Dokja was lying to him? He couldn't trust anyone right now, not after everything that had happened. He couldn't tell who was telling the truth and who was lying.

He shook his head, trying to banish the thought. Dokja... it been two months since Dokja had found him, and he'd never done anything to hurt him. He'd even let him live in his house for free. Maybe, just maybe, Dokja was the one person he could trust.

But, Joonghyun couldn’t help but think back on the few strange behaviors he’d noticed from the other man. He thought back to what he knew about omegas. From the few tidbits he’d picked up from here and there, he knew omegan homes were usually littered with items containing the scents and pheromones of their families and mates.

Compared to that, Dokja’s house was almost sterile, the only possessions laying around clearly belonging to him, only the scent of lavender and old books gently permeating in the air. At first he thought that Dokja had just cleaned out his house since Joonghyun would be staying over. Whether he’d done so out of consideration or discomfort for an alpha poking around his belongings, Joonghyun didn’t know. But that assumption crumpled when he got a peak into the omega’s bedroom the other day.

It was as bare as the rest of the home. While Joonghyun had thought that there would be a large nest of soft pillows, blankets beds, and plushes on Dokja’s bed to make up for the rather barren house, Dokja's bed was clean and plain, just a simple blanket and pillows. He was confused. He was a dominant alpha, so he didn't know much about omegas, but surely there was something here that even slightly appealed to the man’s omega side.

Joonghyun decided to let it go. Maybe Dokja’s omega instincts just weren’t that strong. Either way, it wasn't his business to pry into Dokja's personal life. They weren't mated, just host and guest, so he had no right to ask. He sighed, pulling on a t-shirt, and made his way out of his bedroom and down the stairs to the living room. There, sprawled on the couch, was Dokja, his eyes glued to his phone. Joonghyun knew immediately that he was reading a web novel. His eyes were practically glued to the screen, scrolling and scrolling, barely blinking. Joonghyun couldn't help but smile a little. Dokja looked like a cat, completely engrossed in his own world, oblivious to everything else.

“It's already midnight. Why aren't you sleeping?" he asked, his voice gentle as he sat down next to Dokja.

Dokja looked up from his phone, his eyebrow raised challengingly. "How about you? As far as I know, the doctor said you needed to rest," he said, his voice laced with a hint of amusement.

Joonghyun shrugged. "I just got out of the shower.".

"Hm? This late?" he asked, his voice a low murmur. He set his phone down on the coffee table and reached out, his fingers gently touching Joonghyun's hair. He frowned. "It's still wet. Why did’t you dry it?"

"…Didn't feel like it," he answered, delayed as he enjoyed Dokja's fingers running through his hair.

Dokja clicked his tongue disapprovingly "Stay here," he said, his voice firm. He disappeared into another room, leaving Joonghyun sitting on the couch, curious. A moment later, Dokja returned, holding a towel in his hand. "Sit on the floor for me so I can dry your hair." Joonghyun complied with a nod as Dokja settled back behind him on the couch. The room was silent, filled only by the soft rustling of the towel and the gentle hum of the house.

"You have soft hair, Joonghyun~ah. What shampoo are you using?" Dokja quietly wondered out loud. He was savoring the moment, the feeling of Joonghyun's hair beneath his fingers.

"Really? I’m just using the one you put in the shower."

"Impossible! Why’s is your hair so soft while mine is dry as fuck?" Dokja whined, pouting. “You probably have a hair routine like Yoo Sangah, right? Wha—” Dokja was cut off as he felt a hand combing through his hair, tucking it behind his ear. His eyes widened, his movements stopping as he stared into Joonghyun's dark eyes.

"It's soft to touch. I don't know what you mean," Joonghyun said, his voice low. He pulled away slightly, noticing that Dokja's surprised face was flushed a bright red.

"…Dokja?" he asked, his voice a little shaky.

"Y-yes?!" Dokja panicked, flinching at the sound of his name. "Are you done?" Joonghyun asked again, his voice calm but his eyes searching Dokja's face.

"N-no, wait a second!" Dokja stuttered, his voice flustered. Urging Joonghyun to turn back around, he quickly resumed drying Joonghyun's hair, his hands moving a little clumsily. "There, nice and dry," he said after a minute, a hint of pride in his voice. Joonghyun stood up, snatching up Dokja’s phone before he could grab it. "Hey, what are you doing?" he demanded.

"Making sure you sleep."

"Eh? I still need to finish that novel. It's already in the exciting part!" Dokja immediately grabbed his phone back and hugged it like it was his lifeline. But Joonghyun shook his head.

"No, it's already midnight. Look at those eye bags. You still have work tomorrow," Joonghyun argued, tugging on his arm, trying to get him to give it up.

"No, just let me read one more chapter, please!" Dokja pleaded, his two big kitten eyes staring up at Joonghyun.

"No," Joonghyun didn’t concede, his voice flat. He tried tugging again, but Dokja wasn't budging. Joonghyun sighed, and in a single motion, scooped him up in a princess carry.

Dokja's surprised yell was muffled when he face planted into the man’s chest, his hand hastily latching around Joonghyun's nape. "What are you doing?" Dokja exclaimed, his eyes wide with surprise.

"Going to sleep, let’s go," Joonghyun replied nonchalantly. "Hey, I can walk!" Dokja insisted. But Joonghyun didn't answer, pretending not to hear him. He continued carrying Dokja up the stairs, all the while letting Dokja’s complaints bounce off of him.

They stopped in front of Dokja's room. Joonghyun gently put him down, but before Dokja could say anything, Joonghyun grabbed his phone again. "Hey, give it back!" Dokja yelled, reaching for it. But Joonghyun extended his arm, keeping it just out of reach. Dokja jumped, trying to grab it, his frustration mounting.

"You're not getting it. I’ll be giving it back to you tomorrow," Joonghyun said. Dokja glared at him, his lips pursing in annoyance. Joonghyun leaned down, their faces inches apart. He touched Dokja's pointy nose, his thumb gently brushing against it. "So, sleep. Because if I see those eye bags even darker tomorrow, you're going all day without it." Dokja's face immediately paled, his eyes wide with fear. He looked like Joonghyun had slapped him. He quickly stomped into his bedroom and slammed it shut, the sound echoing through the hallway. Joonghyun heard the rustling of blankets and muffled noises from inside the room. He couldn't help but laugh a little at Dokja's dramatic reaction.

Chapter Text

Chapter 14: A Teenager and a Crazy Fan

"Hyung!"

Dokja looked up, his attention caught by the sound of his brother's voice. He was waiting outside his brother's school, his phone tucked safely in his pocket. He watched as Namwoon ran towards him, his smile growing wider.

"Namwoon-ah...here," Dokja said, handing over a brown paper bag. "The books you forgot at my place."

"Thanks," Namwoon said appreciatively, taking the paper bag from his brother's hand.

Dokja put his hand in his pocket, his brow furrowed. "They’ve been sitting at my house for weeks now. How did you even learn without them?"

Namwoon scratched his neck, a crooked smile spreading across his face. "Well actually, after I realized I forgot, Jihye shared her notes with me. I just never got around to getting them back," he admitted, a little sheepish.

Dokja broke into a smile. "Seriously?" he said, his eyes twinkling. He knew who Namwoon was talking about. Jihye. His little brother's crush. Namwoon was always talking about her, finding any excuse to mention her name every since they first met in middle school. Their circle of friends knew, even their parents knew, so it was practically an open secret. But even after all this time Namwoon never seemed to make a move on her.
"Well, why do you need them back now? You seemed to be doing just fine without them.”

Namwoon let go of his neck, his body slumping defeatedly. "Well, uh…about that," he said, trailing off. "She said she'd literally punch me in the face if I didn't get my books by today," he finished shakily.

Dokja chuckled, his hand coming to rest on his brother's shoulder. "Maybe you should find other ways of flirting with her than just mooching off of her school supplies," he said, teasing his brother with a playful grin.

"Hyung! You're supposed to be on my side," Namwoon complained with mock annoyance.

Dokja just chuckled, removing his hand from his brother's shoulder. "Well...that’s how young love is, I guess," he said, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

"Where is she, anyway?" Dokja asked, looking around curiously. They were always attached at the hip, even though Jihye insisted she hated Namwoon.

"Jihye is still on the way," Namwoon said, his eyes scanning the crowd of students walking into the school. He paused, then turned back to his brother, a hesitant look on his face. "Actually, hyung..." he began. But he quickly took back his words. "Nevermind," he said, shaking his head.

Dokja frowned. "What is it?" Namwoon seemed to be struggling with something, his eyes darting back and forth. "You can tell me, you know," Dokja assured, smiling kindly at him. He knew his brother well enough to know when to not push him into talking. But right now, he looked like he need to get something off his chest.

"Well..." Namwoon started slowly. He stared at the ground, his mind trying to find out how best to say what he wanted to convey. He sighed, then looked up at his brother, his eyes filled with a mixture of nervousness and something else, something Dokja couldn't quite place. "It's Jihye," he admitted.

Dokja nodded. "What about her?"

"She's..." Namwoon looked at his brother, his face etched with exhaustion. He sighed, his shoulders slumping. "She's not acting her usual self these days," he murmured, his voice low.

"It’s about her so-called 'master' or something...I don't know why she calls him that. I think he's her older brother or uncle or something," Namwoon said, his voice trailing off. Dokja blinked, his confusion growing. "Well, one day she came into school looking really tired. I just shrugged it off because maybe she just stayed up all night watching movies again. But then three days passed, and she only got worse for wear. After I asked her about it, she said her 'master' went missing, and hasn’t been found yet," Namwoon explained.

Dokja didn't know what to say. He felt bad for the girl. He didn't know her that well, just saw her around sometimes, but he couldn’t imagine how awful it would be if someone he loved went missing. "Well, what happened to him? Has the police made a search party yet?" he asked.

Namwoon shrugged helplessly. "I don't know. Jihye doesn't want to talk about it."

"Hmmm, well, I can understand that” Dokja said to himself. "Right now, the only thing you can do is support her, be with her, and make sure she knows that you're there for her," he said, his voice soft and reassuring.

"I’m trying, hyung, but it just feels...it's like it's not enough," Namwoon muttered, his gaze downcast. He was always trying to cheer her up and joke around with her, but nothing worked. She was still unhappy, even if she tried to act otherwise with everyone else.

Dokja put his hand on his chin, his gaze fixed on his brother's eyes. "I know, Namwoon. But even if it feels like that, it probably means the world to her, knowing you’re there to support her. Trust me, you’re doing good," he affirmed confidently. He knew what it was like to feel helpless, to feel like you couldn't do enough. But just the constant presence of his friends and family had always been able to help stabilize him.

Namwoon stared at him for a moment, then exhaled deeply. "Alright, I'll believe you, hyung," he said, his voice a little quieter now.

Dokja smiled, reaching out to mess up his brother's hair. He glanced at his watch "Looks like I need to be heading off now. But here, use this to take Jihye to the pyeon-uijeom down the street and treat yourselves to plenty of snacks,” Dokja pulled a couple bills out of his pocket and pushed it towards his brother. “Back when I was a highschooler, if I was having a bad day and had a couple extra bills on me, I’d always treat myself to some jjapaguri loaded with a ton of cheese and sausages. Persephone and Hades would scold me when I came home, but it was always worth it,” Dokja reminisced nostalgically.

Namwoon snickered. Of course his brother treated himself with instant noodles. Some things never changed. "Thanks hyung! I’ll try my best to cheer Jihye up with this," Namwoon said, a genuine smile on his face. With that, he turned and ran towards the school gate, not forgetting to wave at his brother before disappearing inside. Dokja smiled, watching him go, then turned and walked away, his steps a little lighter now.

A black car pulled over to the side of the school gate, its darkened windows concealing its occupants from view. Inside, Jihye turned to Hyunsung, her face etched with worry. "Is there still really no news?" she asked.

Hyunsung stared at her, his own face filled with sadness. "Unfortunately, no," he said, his voice heavy with regret. “By the time I recovered enough to revisit the site of the crash, the blood had already washed away from the rain. There was no trail to follow. I went asking around the subdivision to see if anyone saw anything strange happening that night, but that just lead to another dead end," he said, his voice filled with frustration. He knew he should have been more vigilant. He was Joonghyuk's bodyguard and his right-hand man, but he had failed him. "I’m sorry, Jihye-yah, this is all my fault."

(Honestly though, for as diligent as Hyunsung was in finding for his lost superior, his chances of actually doing so were shot from the very beginning. It was hard for any of the neighborhood’s occupants to not notice the gruesome puddle of blood in front of their particular neighbor’s home. But no one had the guts to say anything. What if they were the next victims? Having a large, muscled up man going door to door questioning everyone about it only made everyone more tightlipped. Hyunsung had a tendency to forget how intimidating he could be)

Jihye clenched her fist tightly. She looked up at Hyunsung, her eyes filled with determination. "He's alive, I know it," she proclaimed. "As long as I don't see a body, I won't believe otherwise," she said, her voice quiet but resolute.

Hyunsung understood what Jihye felt. Joonghyuk had basically raised her. Her parents had died in an underworld war, innocent casualties caught in the crossfire. Jihye had been twelve years old, homeless, scavenging for food in the trash when Joonghyuk had found her. He had taken her in and cared for her like a daughter. And when she eventually learned of his true profession, she begged him every day to train her until he relented, the girl becoming his loyal disciple.

Hyunsung smiled at her, his gaze filled with warmth and reassurance. "Don't worry, we will find him. We won’t stop until we do," he affirmed.

Jihye smiled back at him, a flicker of hope in her eyes. "Thank you," she said earnestly.

Hyunsung nodded, then gestured to the school. “You might want to go now, before you're late," he pointed out, noticing the street full of students coming into the school was now empty.

Jihye glanced at her phone. It was ten minutes before her first class started. Her eyes widened in alarm. "Oh, shoot, I'm going to be late!" she exclaimed, flinging the car door open. "Bye!" she yelled, slamming the door shut and making a mad dash towards the school. Hyunsung watched her go, a smile playing on his lips.

Dokja stared at the imposing building in front of him, his stomach churning. He’d always handled the dread of going to work pretty well, but for some reason it was hitting particularly hard today. Gathering his bearings for the arduous day ahead, Dokja shook out his nerves and took a few deep breathes. There was a steady flow of people walking around him as he lingered there, frozen, outside the building. No doubt they were side-eyeing him, but no matter.

Honestly, he truly hated Minosoft and most of his co-workers, but getting into this company had been torturous enough. As much as he wanted to quit, no way in hell did he want to go job searching again. With his mediocre resume, he should’ve been glad that he had a somewhat well-paying job at a mid-tier company. Persephone and Hades had insisted he work for them, or at least use their company name to boost his job prospects, but the thought of using his parents’ success like that just made Dokja feel ashamed. Well, at least Jiwon and Sangah were there. He would’ve lost his mind a long time ago without them.

Speaking of which.

"Good morning, Dokja-ssi!" Sangah greeted him as he arrived at their floor. He put his bag down on his chair and smiled back at her.

"Good morning too, Sangah-ssi," he said, his voice still a little weary from the morning's ordeal. Looking around, he realized that Jiwon wasn’t in her usual spot for today. Sangah’s eyes followed his gaze to Jiwon's workspace, and promptly gave an answer to his confused look. "She came in earlier, but she hightailed it to the lounge area for some coffee."

Sangah’s pleasant demeanor then turned a bit hesitant before saying her next words. "Actually, I don’t think she got a wink of sleep last night," she whispered. "She was really pale when she came in, and she had some really dark eye bags."

Dokja made a noise of concern. "Did she get a lot of work thrown her way or something?"

Sangah shrugged, "She didn’t mention anything like that to me..." she said, her voice trailing off.

From the other side of the office, they both saw Jiwon walking towards them, a cup of coffee in her hand. She was muttering something to herself, her eyes fixed on the floor. "Jiwon-ssi!" he called out, his voice a little louder than usual.

Jiwon looked up, and Dokja immediately noticed the large dark circles under her eyes, making him wince a little. He vaguely wondered if this is what everyone else saw when he went days without sleep to read his novels. "Good morning, Dokja-ssi, Sangah-ssi," she rasped out lethargically, removing her earplugs.

"Morning, Jiwon-ssi," he greeted along with Sangah. Dokja and Sangah exchanged a side-eye glance as Jiwon mumbled a quiet reply before took a sip of her coffee. "Uhh...you’re looking a bit tired this morning Jiwon-ssi, is everything alright?"

Jiwon looked at him, then chuckled, an exhausted smile playing on her lips. "Oh no, I'm just streaming the new song of my idol. Haaah, it’s perfect in every way. I would die for him!" she cried out suddenly, her voice filled with a fanatical fervor that made Dokja and Sangah exchange another side-eye glance. They felt a sense of déjà vu, relieved to see Jiwon come back to her energetic self but still worried about her health.

While Jiwon always tried dragging them into becoming idol fans, they didn't really have time for things like that, what with their demanding managers and endless workload. Besides, Dokja already sacrificed most of his time and health to reading, giving anymore to another hobby would probably kill him.

"If Jiwon-ssi loves him so much, surely he must be very talented. May I ask who he is?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Jiwon's eyes sparkled with anticipation. She snatched up Sangah's hands, her excitement palpable. "Do you want to stream the song? It only gets better after each time you listen to it, but for me the 43rd time was when it really started to hit differently!" she cried, her voice shaky. Sangah, baffled, continued to wear a wobbly smile. "Um, well, that sounds—" she began, but before she could finish, the manager's voice boomed across the office.

"Go to work everyone! The company doesn’t pay you to stand around and gossip!"

"Tch. I swear to god, if murder wasn't illegal, I'd do it. Bald old man," Jiwon muttered under her breath, her glare fixed on the manager, who was thankfully oblivious to her murderous intent. She pulled away from Sangah with a forlorn sigh. "I'll just come to you later during lunch break," she promised, her voice a little softer now.

"Sounds good," Sangah agreed, her smile fading as she returned to her desk. Everyone went back to their work, moving like zombies. Dokja, in particular, looked like he was going through the motions, his mind already lost in the pages of his favorite novel.

Besides making a basic living for himself, the only reason Dokja went to work was to fund his hobby. The next paycheck he got would let him get the physical adaptation of a webnovel he’d followed for a long time. He would work, he would read, and he would dream of a life where he could just disappear into the pages of a story forever.

His mind flashed to his parents, who would’ve been enjoying a day off right. He sighed, his fingers drumming against his keyboard. "Damn...I really need a day off too," he grumbled to himself.

Chapter Text

Chapter 15: Little Attraction

On the street right across from Minosoft, there was an upscale coffee shop that was always full of customers. Today, a petite young woman entered through its glass doors. Small kitten heels clacked against the floor, leading up to one of the window booth seats. A singular man sat there, awaiting her presence with two cups of coffee already ordered. His unimpressed gaze met hers

"You're late. Kaori”

The woman all practically collapsed into the other side of the booth. "Look, I actually tried being on time today, but Little Miss Princess ordered me to drive whole hour for her coffee, " she complained, settling into the seat. "I swear, if the story doesn’t need her I’ll poison her myself," she muttered, crossing her arms in annoyance.

"Hmph, just sounds like you getting a taste of your own medicine,” Bihyung said with a smirk. Kaori glared at him, opening her mouth the argue back. But before she could, he interrupted.

"Anyways… from what I can tell, those two are already becoming close." Kaori, still annoyed about earlier but also wanting to hear the news, slumped back into her chair reluctantly and nodded.

"How close can you say?" she asked.

Bihyung looked up, as if deep in thought. "40% I guess? They seem comfortable around each other, judging from their few grocery trips together." Kaori nodded. For now, the characters didn't need her intervention. The antagonists were already moving ahead with their plans. But the stage had to be set for the incoming mess that was going to hit.

"How about you? What's going on there in Japan?" Bihyung asked.

Kaori leaned forward, resting her hands on the table. "Well, I can’t exactly get close enough to them to keep track of their moves like you do. But the party and the night they spent together already happened," she reported, grabbing the handle of her coffee mug and taking a long sip.

Bihyung nodded a couple of times, his gaze fixed on the street outside the cafe. "Then, the plot only just kicked off. Looks like we’ll both have our work cut out for us from this moment on," he pointed out wearily.

The both of them shared a long suffering sigh, Bihyung especially distraught since this wasn’t even his job in the first place. Kaori’s phone buzzed on the table, the caller ID flashing "Bitch." The quiet moment ruined, she sighed in annoyance and accepted the call. "Hell--"

["WHERE ARE YOU?!"] the woman on the other end of the line yelled, her voice sharp and demanding.

Kaori glanced at Bihyung, who was staring at her with a raised eyebrow. "Personal business…" she replied, her voice deliberately calm.

["I don’t pay you to take care of ‘your business’, I pay you to take care of mine! Now come back here, I need you!"] the woman yelled again, her voice echoing with impatience. Kaori made a disgusted face. God, could this woman tone it down a bit?

"I thought I got everything you put on the list done for the day. What else do you need me to do?"

["Are you seriously talking back to me right now?!"] The woman's voice rose another octave. Kaori pulled the phone away from her ear slightly, the volume almost unbearable. ["Gosh, you're so stupid! Just get back here this instant!"] With a click, the call ended.

Kaori slammed the phone down in anger, her face flushed. A few nearby tables turned to look at them. "I swear one day, I'm killing that woman!" she yelled, her voice trembling with frustration.

Documents for the ongoing project...check. Money...check. Bag...check. Phone... after a through inspection of Dokja's face for any eyebags from Joonghyun, check.
Dokja nodded to himself. It seemed he hadn't forgotten anything. He started down the living room so Joonghyun could see him off. Joonghyun was on the couch, completely engrossed in his phone, an old phone Dokja was going to hand off Namwoon before their parents had gotten the latest model for his birthday. Unblinkingly he tapped away at his phone a bunch of "Nice kills," "Good shot," and other similar phrases pouring form the phone speakers. Dokja walked over to the sofa, leaning against the headrest. "Another game? You’ve really been enjoying those lately,” leaning closer to study the game, he raised an eyebrow. "Oh hey, my company worked on this one," he recognized the familiar logo.

It was called Regression, a game that resembled a novel in its intricate storyline and a multitude of chapters. Its development had been bumpy, only a small portion of the company and its funds being assigned to oversee its development and release. But Dokja had been fully invested into its concept and story. So even though he’d only been involved in the project management, organizing the timelines and the resource allocation, he tried his best to make sure it had every chance it could to succeed. For the few teams that were allowed to work on it, the game was an immense passion project that all of them had wanted to see through.

The entire game was set in an apocalyptic world, filled top to bottom with challenging quests. The first ten levels were relatively easy, but the difficulty spiked immensely onward. The higher you climbed, the more demanding the challenges became. While the game hadn’t achieved any kind of astronomical success, its sales were good, making back more than enough to keep the company happy. It’s difficult, while somewhat deterring players, had become reputable enough for a sizable cult following to build around it.

Joonghyun finally looked up, raising an eyebrow. "Really? I didn't notice."

Dokja nodded and leaned in closer, his eyes fixed on Joonghyun's avatar. The game’s character creation had done a pretty good job at capturing his likeness. Though of course he was wearing just about every black clothing piece it had to offer. He shook his head, chuckling softly. "What chapter are you in right now?" he asked, curious about Joonghyun's progress.

Joonghyun didn't immediately answer, his focus still on the game. "35..." he finally said.

Dokja's eyes widened in disbelief. "What…?" he breathed out, not knowing if he’d heard correctly. "Just when did you even start playing?" he asked, his voice laced with amazement.

"This morning.." Joonghyun said, matter-of-factly.

Dokja's jaw dropped. How?! He had barely passed level 11 before he had to quite the game altogether. He'd even considered paying Sooyoung to finish it for him if just to get the story tidbits, but even she had struggled. Dokja was kinda smug about that, secretly enjoying the fact that even Sooyoung couldn't conquer the game. But really, Regression was hard. A lot of people gave up because of its difficulty. So how did Joonghyun manage to reach level 35 in just a few hours? It was baffling.

"J-just how the hell did you manage to get that high" Dokja stammered, his head tilting slightly towards Joonghyun.
Though, he hadn't realized just how close they’d gotten until he inhaled a lungful of Joonghyuk’s heady scent. Dokja's breath hitched in his throat as cedarwood and black vanilla filled his senses. He could almost taste it on his tongue.

Dizzy from the sudden sensory overload, Dokja stumbled forward, almost falling over the back of the couch had he not grabbed into Joonghyun's shoulder. A large hand came up to lay over his, trying to stabilize him. Those dark, intense eyes bore down on him. Vaguely Dokja heard Joonghyun asking him if he was alright, but he couldn't seem to do anything but stare back.

His lips and mouth felt dry. Why was he even feeling this way? And why was everything so warm? The air was thick and suffocating. As far as he knew, the air conditioning was on.
God, something was definitely wrong with him. Dokja gulped again, feeling his throat tighten. God, he knew he looked like shit right now.

And Joonghyun wasn't helping. His eyes continued to hold him captive. It was making Dokja's face even redder.

DING

Both Dokja and Joonghyun jolted away from each other at the sudden noise. Backing away from the couch, Dokja fumbled to get his phone from his pocket. It was a notification from his web novel app. A new chapter from one of the series he was following had just been uploaded. He released a shaky breath of relief.

Looking back at Joonghyun, the man’s attention was completely back to his phone game. The atmosphere was now thick with awkwardness. Dokja fidgeted with his fingers, faking a cough. "Uh, I’ll get going now. Can you lock the door for me?" he asked.

Joonghyun nodded. "I will…have a good day," the last part was said in a more hushed tone.

Oh, he definitely would. Hints of Joonghyun’s scent still lingered in his senses. Dokja shook the thought from his head, saying goodbye before heading out the front door. Closing it behind him, he stood there for a moment, placing his hands on his cheeks. His face was still hot, and his heart was beating too fast. "God...what the hell was that?" he muttered to himself, embarrassed and confused.

Joonghyun put down his phone, his fingers running through his hair in frustration. The tips of his ears were burning.

He wouldn't deny it. He found Dokja attractive.

There was no telling how it started. Perhaps it was the natural physical reaction of an alpha cohabitating with an omega for so long, being surrounded by the omega’s pheromones day in and day out. But the admitted emotional attachment Joonghyun had developed for the man couldn’t be dismissed either. No matter what the cause was, it didn’t stop Dokja from visiting him in his dreams. And just as Dokja’s presence haunted his dreams, the dreams loitered in his memories for days on end.

"Joonghyun~ah!" Dokja purred, climbing onto his lap. Plump thighs straddled his hips, pants thrown off and abandoned on the floor. Slender fingers came up to unbutton his dress shirt. A teasing glimpse of skin was revealed as the shirt slid off his shoulder. A mischievous grin played on Dokja’s lips as he started to grind against Joonghyun's lap, his ass pressing against Joonghyun's crotch. Only then did Joonghyun notice a startling problem here: he was still fully clothed. He NEEDED to feel Dokja’s burning flesh against his own.

But when he went to shove the offending piece of clothing off, a pale and laid over his own, stopping him. "Now what exactly do you think you’re doing?" Dokja asked, pouting playfully.

Joonghyun's growled lowly, glaring up at he who dared to interfere with his pleasure. Those star-filled eyes only filled with satisfaction at his struggle. It was like staring into the eyes of a devil. One wrong move and he would be consumed whole. "Hm? Why the anger, Joonghyun? Don’t think I didn’t notice how you looked at me, how you get off to my pheromones." Dokja leaned down, capturing his lips in a seering kiss. Joonghyun desperately reciprocated. The kiss was messy, teeth clacking together as their tongues intermingled with each other, both of them fighting to dominate the other. It was dirty and it was exhilarating, sending a jolt of electricity through their bodies. Joonghyun could feel sweat beading on his skin. His cock was growing harder and harder, and Dokja only encouraged it as he continued grinding against his lap.

Dokja leaned back, breaking the kiss, but their lips remained close, red and slick with a string of saliva connecting them. “You took your sweet time, Joonghyun, teasing me with your fleeting touches and spreading your pheromones everywhere. Too long. It only makes sense that I be the one to pounce first and get what I waited so patiently for. And you’ll lay there and wait your turn… like the good alpha I know you are.” Dokja smiled wider, his grin turning predatory, as he ground harder against Joonghyun's prominent bulge. With two hand braced against Joonghyun’s chest, Dokja’s spine went as straight as a rod as he tossed his head back in pleasure, releasing a breathy moan at the stimulation.

Joonghyun almost lost it when he realized that the growing wetness he could feel through his pants was not his own precum, but in fact, the copious amount of slick that was leaking out of Dokja’s hole. His body thrumming with the building sensation. Joonghyun couldn't help but stare up and down Dokja’s body.

As Dokja moved his body to the rhythm he set, Joonghyun watched as his smaller omegan cock, bright red and leaking, bounced with the movement of his body. Never before had Joonghyun thought he’d be desperate to suck another man’s cock, but here he was. How rewarding would Dokja’s surprise be if he took the omega’s entire shaft in his mouth right there and then. What would his precum taste like as it went down his tongue and throat, Joonghyun wondered. Maybe sweet like lavender, or something stronger. Would Dokja fall to the pleasure or would he grab Joonghyun’s hair and make him take his cock deeper, thrusting into his throat?

Joonghyun started salivating at the thought, a low rumble building in his throat.

From there, Joonghyun’s eyes traveled up Dokja’s body, going past the perky nipples he wanted to bite and suck on, until he focused on the vast canvas of his unmarked neck. His instincts were screaming at him to bite, to claim, to leave his mark. But no, Joonghyun bit his own lip to control the urge.

No he needed to behave. He was Dokja’s obedient alpha, after all.

Taking notice of how hard Joonghyun was trying to hold himself back, Dokja’s eyes curved with approval. He slowed his pace, the tips of his fingers traveling all over Joonghyun’s broad body to feel the curves of his hard muscles. Dokja leaned down to nip the junction between Joonghyun’s pecs, a red mark sprouting. More marks were left on Joonghyun’s skin as Dokja bit and sucked his way up from his chest to his neck, a clear roadmap of hickies left behind. With a chaste kiss to the corner of his lips, Dokja placed a hand on Joonghyun's cheek, his thumb tracing its contours. "You’ve been so well behaved…shall I let you enter me?" he purred, his voice husky with desire.

Joonghyun wanted to answer, but it felt like all the air had been squeezed from his lungs. He just latched his hands onto on Dokja's ass, the sensation making Dokja laugh, an angelic sound that could’ve sent him to heaven. Dokja took one of Joonghyun's hands and placed it on his stomach. "But when you do, you’d better put a baby in me," he whispered.

Joonghyun's eyes snapped open. Shit. He was starting to get hard, and he didn't want to go through the whole shower routine again. Just yesterday he had to deal with the same issue and thank goodness Dokja hadn't been around to witness that. He would have killed himself if he had heard him.
It was just a physical attraction. It would fade away...right?

"Chapter 36 now available in campaign mode!”
“Click to begin the chapter!"

With a last plea for his body to calm down, Joonghyun clicked the notification. Animations flickered across the screen, as he skipped through the dialogue and cutscenes to get to the gameplay.

Only half of his mind actually paid attention to what was happening in-game, the rest of the difficult side quests and challenges cleared with what he could only consider muscle memory. Hopefully the strangely familiar motions of the game could lull his body to settling down.

Chapter Text

Chapter 16: Pheromones

"Did your parents make Namwoon-ssi put sleeping pills in your food again, Dokja-ssi?"

Sangah had been staring at him ever since lunch break had started, and inquisitive look on her face. The fish cake that Dokja was about to eat stopped just outside his mouth as he raised a questioning eyebrow at her.

"It’s been a long time since you haven’t come into work looking like a zombie" she continued, casually picking at her own lunch, “ Compared to every other day, your skin is practically glowing.”

“Hmm, now that she mentions it, I can totally see what she means!” Jiwon joined in on the conversation enthusiastically. “Did you finally try that eye serum that I gave you two last month? I told you it works miracles.”

Scrunching his forehead to figure out what they were talking about, Dokja blinked when he figured it out. He put down his chopsticks, sighing tiredly. "Ah, about that. Joonghyun, stole my phone and bribed me into going to sleep," he said bluntly. All of last night was him staring at the ceiling and worrying about what chapter he was missing and how to sneak into Joonghyuk’s room to get his phone back.

When he realized it would’ve been a futile endeavor, the next half of the night was him panicking that he wouldn’t get his phone back and trying to go to sleep as instructed. Honestly, he was able to do so pretty fast. He hadn’t realized how tired he was until then.
Sangha smiled at knowing twinkle in her eyes. "I'm glad that you’re letting Joonghyun take care of you."

Dokja just shrugged, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks. Jiwon stared at the two of them. "Joonghyun? I didn’t know you had a mate, Dokja-ssi."

Both Sangah and Dokja turned to her, a look of realization dawning on them. Sangah glanced at Dokja with a flustered look on her face. She hadn’t considered if the situation was something that Dokja would’ve wanted to reveal.

“No no, nothing like that!” His face even more red, Dokja waved the notion away as he shook his head in denial. “He’s just… someone that fell into pretty hard times recently. I’ve been letting him stay at my home while he gets his bearings together in the meantime.”

Jiwon blinked a few times, taking in the information. "Ehhh, really now?" she asked. She tilted her head and muttered to herself. "That's strange...that scent that’s been all over you recently must be his right? I thought for sure you were in a relationship..."

Dokja widened his eyes. "Eh?" He looked at Sangah to see if she thought so too. With the same thoughtful look on her face as Jiwon, Sangah rested had face on her hand. "I could make out an alpha’s scent on you, but I already knew about Joonghyun, so I didn’t think too much about it," she said, shrugging nonchalantly.

"Mhm. I want to ask you about it, but I didn’t know if that’d be overstepping or not," Jiwon admitted as she continued to eat.

Dokja took in their words for a moment. He hadn’t had a clue Joonghyun’s presence in his life had made itself so apparent even to people who didn’t even know him. Having an alpha’s pheromones all over him probably sent the wrong signal to everyone, just as Jiwon had shown. But, oddly enough, Dokja found that he really didn’t mind Joonghyun’s pheromones. It brought a sort of strange comfort. As if Joonghyun was always with him.

That trail of thought wasn’t able to go far as Dokja’s phone buzzed with a new notification, his screen lighting up. At the sight of it, he shoveled down the rest of his lunch and stood up, preparing to leave. "I’ll tell you guys more about him later, I need to go now!"

“Huh” "Wait, where are you going?!" the two women called out to him, confused about the sudden frenzy of motion.

"New chapter released!" He yelled back, his voice fading as he sped away. There was only 10 minutes left before the lunch break was over. His tray was deposited in its proper place before he and hurried towards the elevator to go to the building’s balcony. His mind was already buzzing with anticipation.

There was a seating spot near the railing of the balcony lit by the sunlight. It was there that Dokja chose to settle down for the time, opening his web novel app. It was the same story he had been reading the night before, but Joonghyun had seized his phone, leaving him with only this meager amount of time to consume as much of it as he could.

Junyoung's hands were carefully holding his lover, his omega, his mate. The only person he would ever love in his lifetime, and the only one who loved him in equal measure. Their pheromones combined, creating a heady mix that drove them both wild. They couldn't get enough of each other, layer after layer of clothing falling away until-

A smile played on his lips as he read, but then it dropped like a stone. He’d waited all this time for the update, and it was just a sex scene?! He hadn't signed up for this! The novel had been a straightforward action apocalypse story so far, where the hell did this scene come from? And why was it so detailed?!

Quickly glancing around to see if anyone else was there, Dokja went to the next paragraph, his eyes glued to the words.

-His legs trembled. Junhyuk grabbed his lover's chin, forcing him to look into his eyes. "Don't cover your mouth, Love... I want to hear you," he said, his voice low and husky. He thrust again, deeper, harder.

His lover had no choice but to-

Dokja hurriedly scrolled past the words with shaky fingers, hoping to find a section of the chapter that was actually plot relevant.

-bed creaked with every thrust, the sound blending with heavy breaths and sweet moans. He was lost in the passion, his body throbbing with pleasure. Then he felt something, a tightness, a burning. "Junhyuk~ah! It... It hurts!" he yelled, his voice laced with pain. The knot was starting to swell, growing bigger, making it painful to pull out. It-

Nope. Dokja lowered his phone with a sigh. It wasn’t the first time he had read something a bit smutty at work, but a warning would’ve been nice. Especially when he had spent all of last night hyping himself up about the next story development. While he wasn’t particularly for or against those kind of scenes written in works, whenever they included omegas he couldn’t help but question them a bit.

At the ripe age of 28 he’d never had any kind of intimate relationship with anyone. Combined with his own unfortunate experience as an omega, he’d become jaded to the rose-tinted lens that novels portrayed omegas in. He skimmed over the paragraph he’d just read. It was basically just the omega was just moaning about how good his alpha’s knot was.

Frome reading about the experiences of other omegas, knotting an omega in heat supposedly helped relieve cramps and gave a sense of security to omegas, in addition to its biological function of keeping semen in. Of course, it was still risky since omegas are most fertile during their heat. Perhaps it was still a preferred alternative to heat pills with all the side effects that came with them.

Dokja wasn’t embarassed to admit his curiosity about what mating with an alpha would be like. Whether it was on nights when he was alone and craving touch or during the brain-splitting headaches from his heat suppressants, the thought came across his mind commonly enough.

It was almost enough to convince him to check himself into one of those heat facilities for omegas, just as his family had recommended for him. Places like those were built to monitor vulnerable omegas during their heats and could provide certified alphas to help them through it if needed. That was the thought at least. Such facilities had only been introduced recently, and though the stringent standards and practices that they put in place had prevented any major incidents from happening so far, Dokja just couldn’t imagine entrusting himself to a complete stranger of an alpha.
Though, as soon as he thought that, the image of Joonghyun’s face flashed into his mind, along with Sangah’s words from earlier.

"I'm glad that you’re letting Joonghyun take care of you."

…Huh

With that in mind, Dokja closed out of the app and instead check the calendar on his phone, his eyes trailing down to a certain date that he’d marked.

A small voice in the back of Dokja’s mind, tiny but intrusive, wondered if Joonghyuk would be able to help him through his next heat.

They had pretty good chemistry together, judging from the passed few weeks they’d spent together. The physical attraction was also there, considering the many many times he’d replayed their interaction from this morning. The heat he’d felt in his body and the way Joonghyun’s pheromones made him feel…it had to be.

Most of all, he trusted Joonghyun. All this time they’d spent together and not once had the other man do anything untoward to him. It was the exact opposite really.

But trust was one thing. Taking Joonghyun’s knot inside of him…

SLAP!

Dokja hit his cheeks with both his hands, his bizarre trail of thought coming to a screeching halt. How could he even let such an idea get into his head?! Above all, Joonghyun was a man that he was responsible for caring for, not the other way around. He’d be completely taking advantage of Joonghyun by doing that.

He closed his eyes, leaning back defeatedly in his chair. "Ugh, when did I turn so pathetic..." he muttered, about to sigh, when he saw someone sitting in one of the chairs a short distance away. A familiar face was staring right at him, bemusement written all over it.

“W-Woojin-nim!" he exclaimed, jumping to his feet to give a deep bow. "It's good to see you again... but were you there this whole time?" he asked timidly.

Woojin smiled, standing up from the chair to come over to him. "Yup. I was here before you, but you walked right past me. Couldn’t get you to hear me either" he said, his voice smooth and pleasant.

Dokja's eyes widened even further. "D-does that mean you saw me..."

"Having a dilemma? Yes, I did." Woojin nodded, a playful glint in his eyes. He paused, letting the words hang in the air, then added with a mischievous smile, "Don't worry, I won't judge. These things just happen sometimes."

“……..ah, thanks…” The reply came out weakly, barely audible. Maybe if he was quiet enough, the earth would come up to swallow him whole. No way did he want to face his superior, especially not after contemplating getting knotted by his housemate. He’d honestly rather face Sooyoung.

"So..." Woojin tilted his head, a knowing look in his eyes. "A penny for your thoughts?"

Dokja's eyes widened. "Ah, no... I mean, it's...just, thinking about someone, I guess," he mumbled, looking down at his shoes. He felt like he was about to combust with embarrassment.

Woojin stared at him for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Oh? Romantic troubles, or maybe something more platonic?" he wondered aloud, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. "Do you mind?" he asked, putting a cigarette to his lips.

"Oh no, go ahead. And for you question… something in between, I think," Dokja said.

Woojin nodded, lighting the cigarette and taking a long drag, exhaling a plume of smoke. "Well then, I’m afraid you’re out of luck for advice if you were expecting any from me. Can’t say I’m one for sentimental relationships," he said, a hint of wistfulness in his voice.

Dokja raised an eyebrow. "So you're a playboy..." he started, but then he immediately clamped his mouth shut, realizing just who he was talking to.

Woojin stared at him for a moment, his eyes wide with surprise, before he burst into laughter. "No, nothing like that!" he said, shaking his head.

"I-I'm sorry. I don't know where that came from!" Dokja said, bowing his head in apology.

Woojin smiled at him, his gaze softening. "It's alright. While I find the concept unappealing, I hope you can find a good conclusion to your current plight."

"Unappealing? What do you mean by that?"

Woojin felt his smile straining. Images played in his mind like a film. A woman, prostrating herself on the ground, begging for anyone’s acceptance. The blank ceiling of his bedroom, her constant screams and wailing seeping through the walls all night.

Experiencing betrayal after betrayal yet still clinging onto the tiniest sliver of reciprocation.
No.

Never would he debase himself like that.

Returning to the present moment, he had to relax his body. His body had unconsciously tensed up.
“Hmm, I suppose I never had any good experiences related to it.”

Dokja stared at him, confused. He didn't really understand what he meant about that, but he just nodded, trying to process the conversation. Then, his phone rang, making him flinch slightly. He looked at the screen.

Yoo Sangah is calling...

He looked at Woojin. "Sorry, I have to take this call." Excusing himself, he took a few steps away and put the phone to his ear. "Hello...?"

"Dokja-ssi, where are you?" Sangah's voice came through the speaker, sounding slightly panicked.

"On the balcony," he said, giving Woojin a side-eye. He was staring off into the distance, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Why?"

"You need to go back now. You only have two minutes before break is over. And you know manager gets."

"What?" Dokja exclaimed, looking at the time. It was already 1:28. "Shoot, I'll be there. Bye!" He ended the call and turned back to Woojin, "Woojin-nim..." he said, trying to get his attention. "I need to get back now. I enjoyed your company... have a good day." He bowed, nervousness and awkwardness in his gesture.

The other man opened his mouth, about to say something but then shut it again, deciding against it. Instead, Woojin nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Mhm... I hope you have a good day too, Dokja-ssi. And like I said last time we met, the formalities aren’t needed. Just call me by my name."

Dokja nodded and turned to leave, the feeling of Woojin’s stare on his back as he did.

Woojin stared at the elevator doors as they closed.
Dokja's scent. It was Joonghyuk’s.

When they first met it was faint, and with Dokja wearing a choker it could’ve passed off as cologne. But today there was no denying it. It was an alpha’s scent, through and through.

Did Dokja know Joonghyuk? Or was Dokja the one who had kidnapped him? He needed to find out everything he could about Kim Dokja. If he was just being paranoid and it boiled down to an alpha in his life having similar pheromones, then fine. But if it was Joonghyuk, that was a different story. A dangerous one.

If Dokja really did have Joonghyuk, he would have to act fast, lest anyone else caught on.

Dialing a number into the phone, he put it to his ear. The call was picked up promptly.

["Boss?"]

"I have a job for you," Woojin said, with no preamble. He had a score to settle, and this time, he wouldn't be playing nice.

Chapter Text

Chapter 17: Broken Thing

The sizable bottle of soju was set on the table with a soft thud. Yuzu citron soju: Sooyoung’s favorite.
"Okay, what are you trying to bribe me for this time," she asked flatly, an unimpressed look on her face even as she reached towards it eagerly.

"No idea what you’re talking about," was Dokja’s reply, returning Sooyoung’s look as he dug into a piece of fried chicken. Sangah and Jiwon sitting quietly across from them, watching the exchange with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. With Sooyoung’s stare not letting up, Dokja rolled his eyes, his patience wearing thin. "Do you want it or not?" he asked, his voice laced with annoyance.

Sooyoung popped the cap with a satisfying click. "Of course I do, but I know better than to think you’re doing this out of the goodness of your heart." She leaned forward, a smirk playing on her lips. She knew Dokja. She knew he wouldn't offer her something like this without a reason. "So, what’ll it be for you, Mr. Squid?"

Dokja raised an eyebrow, his expression unchanged. He was used to Sooyoung's sharp wit; it wasn’t like he could hide anything from her. He took another bite of his fried chicken, looking between her and Sangah and Jiwon. Swallowing his bite and throwing the bare chicken bone into the small waste basket, Dokja sighed begrudgingly. The three women immediately leaned forward; their curiosity piqued. They knew this was going to be good. They were about to hear some juicy gossip about their friend's life.

"It's about... well... me and Joonghyun..." Dokja mumbled, barely audible over the chatter of the restaurant.

Sooyoung slammed her hands on the table, "You want me to write fanfic of you two?! I’m in!" Sooyoung yelled, drawing the attention of the other diners.

"Of course not! What kind of person do you think I am?"

But she wasn’t even paying attention to him anymore, "Y’know, as a world renown author I normally wouldn’t accept such paltry requests. But I’ll make an exception for you, my number one fan. You should feel lucky that I’m so kind."

"You're not kind, just delusional."

"Says the guy who wants me to write fanfic?"

"You didn't even let me finish my sentence!"

Amidst Sooyoung’s self-praising and Dokja’s fuming, Sangah took the time to step in. "Alright, that's enough before you both go and bicker again like children," Sangah said, a look on her face that made her girlfriend settle down, albeit with a pout. She then turned to Dokja. " You were saying, Dokja-ssi?"

Dokja nodded appreciatively at her. "Well... I had to take Joonghyun to the hospital the other week. He saw something on the TV that triggered his memory issues."

The atmosphere around the table became uneasy. " Joonghyun-ssi? Is he okay?" Sangah asked, concern evident in her voice.

Dokja nodded. "Yeah. The doctor said that it could be a result of his memories trying to resurface. For now, he’s taking it easy and trying not to strain himself, but this could be a good sign that he’s recovering, " he explained.

Jiwon frowned, her gaze fixed on Dokja. "Amnesia… to think he was going through something like that… Then what did he see to cause that reaction?"

Dokja put his hand on his chin, a thoughtful expression on his face as he started to think. "Well, as far as I can remember, it was about the collaboration of Minosoft and Murim Conglomerate."

The three women frowned, exchanging skeptical looks. "Doesn’t that mean the guy’s connected to Minosoft or the fucking Murim Conglomerate? This is a huge deal, isn’t it?" Sooyoung looked at everyone with widened eyes, amazed at the discovery. But Dokja shook his head.

“The thought occurred to me, but I can’t confirm anything from it. Murim is huge as it is, and Minosoft is pretty widespread too. He could just be a worker at some subsidiary of the Murim Conglomerate. It could even be as small as him being a fan of a game from Minosoft,” Dokja pointed out. Sooyoung groaned and grumpily leaned over to grab a chicken wing, disappointed that what may have been a new discovery turned out to be a letdown.

"Though, since you bring it up, it couldn’t hurt to consider it some more. Sangah-ssi, Jiwon-ssi, does Joonghyun look familiar to you?"

Sangah shook her head, a sad smile on her face. "Eh, Dokja-ssi, we've never even met him." Besides the few nuggets of information about him that Dokja gave, the only interaction Sangah had ever had with him was a brief phone call that was supposed to go to Dokja.

"Ah, right." Dokja grabbed his phone, opening a picture in his gallery. "Here," he said, handing the phone to them. It was a picture he'd taken when Joonghyun needed to get a temporary ID card.

Sooyoung snatched it up, almost spitting her food all over the screen when her eyes landed on it. Sangah and Jiwon followed suit, their jaws dropping in unison. "No way in hell you’ve been living with this guy! Is he even real?" she yelled, shoving the phone in his face in disbelief. Even while having messy bedhead and staring blankly at the camera, Joonghyun’s looks were not something to scoff at.

"This is definitely AI!" Sooyoung yelled again, not caring about the restaurant patrons who were staring at them judgmentally.

“Dokja-ssi, are you sure he isn’t your mate…?” Jiwon muttered, awestruck.

"Of course it isn’t AI, why would I do that?" Dokja argued, tapping on the phone. "See, it's a photo, clearly a jpeg! And Jiwon-ssi, I already told you my answer to that."

"No, I'm not going to accept this!!" Sooyoung was adamant on her belief. She couldn't be convinced otherwise.

While the other two women were getting over Joongyun’s looks, Sangah grabbed the phone from Sooyoung's hand, staring hard at it. She frowned, her mind working overtime. "Hmm, I feel like he's familiar, though from where I wouldn’t be able to pinpoint." She handed the phone over to Jiwon. "How about you, Jiwon-ssi? Any ideas?"

Jiwon looked at it, her eyes scanning Joonghyun's features. She shook her head. "I don't know. He looks kind of similar to a few celebrities I know, but other than that I got nothing." She shrugged her shoulders, munching down on some tteokbokki. Dokja slumped, taking back his phone with a discouraged thanks.

Sangah put her hand on his shoulder. "Don't think about it too much, Dokja-ssi. We could be wrong, the answer may be closer than we think." She wanted to reassure him, but even she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

"Or maybe he really is connected to the Murim Conglomerate." Sooyoung said, her voice dripping with intrigue. Everyone turned to look at her, their eyebrows raised in surprise. "What? It's not out of the picture. Especially how secretive that company is." She mumbled the last part with food in her mouth. Sangah just shook her head in exasperation at her girlfriend's behavior.

Dokja hummed, taking her words into consideration. "Maybe it’s time for me to hire a private investigator…"

Sooyoung nodded in approval. "It's definitely what you should’ve done in the first place," she agreed, pointing a finger at him like an auntie giving advice. "I mean, you have the money... you're rich."

"My adopted parents are, not me," he clarified.

She shrugged. "Eh, and they adopted you, which means you're rich too.” She shook her head. "If I were you, I'd already be exploring the world."

He rolled his eyes, a sarcastic smile playing on his lips. "Then it’s a good thing you’re not. You’d drain Persephone’s savings within a week with your tastes," he snickered. Sooyoung stuck her tongue out at him as Jiwon joined in with his laughter.

"Then do you have someone who can help you, Dokja-ssi? I have a friend who can help, if you want," Sangah asked, bringing the conversation back to the topic at hand.

Dokja shook his head. "No need for that. I was going to have Bihyung provide one." His family had their own private investigator for the purpose of hiring and catching potential corporate spies in their company, but asking for their services would just alert his parents that something was wrong. So, no, he'd just ask Bihyung to find one.

"Anyway, what was the soju for again?" Sooyoung held up the half-finished bottle that had started the conversation in the first place. Dokja lit up, being reminded of what he was supposed to be getting at.

"Ah, right. While Joonghyun was getting checked out by the doctor, I kinda ran into my mother and father " Dokja recalled. “We were standing right outside the office where they were talking in, and when they asked me why I was just standing around, I sort of panicked and… uh…” He hesitated to say the next part, scratching his cheek self-consciously.

This made the three women become even more curious, their faces twisting in a mixture of amusement and suspicion. Sooyoung became irritated with the silence. "Oh, come on, spill it out!" she said, her voice impatient.

Dokja raised both hands, telling her that he was getting there. "Well, I just said that you hurt your ankle tripping over some drafts and had to have me help you to the doctor," he rushed out, looking her straight in the eyes.

Sooyoung stared at him, disbelief written all over her face. "Do you think I'm that dumb?! Hell, even if I’d broken my ankle, I’d drag myself over to the hospital just fine without your scrawny-ass squid arms!" Dokja was unfazed by her outburst.

"Hey, don’t blame me, maybe that’s just how you come off as. Persephone and Hades were the ones that bought the story." ‘They still looked pretty weary of it though’ was what Dokja didn’t add to it, if only to see her stew in her anger a bit more.

"Why you!" Sooyoung shouted. She reached out, making to grab Dokja’s shirt, but Sangah was quicker. She grabbed Sooyoung's arm, pulling her back.

"Sooyoung, there’s no need for that!" Sangah soothed, the corner of her mouth upturned.

"No, let me just... c’mon!" Sooyoung struggled against her girlfriend’s hold on her, Sangah having pulled her into a bear hug to keep her arms down. At this point even the restaurant manager was glaring at their table. Jiwon tried to give him apologetic looks on behalf of the table while Dokja took in the scene with amusement. In the end, they calmed her down when Dokja promised to pay for the meal with his black card. Considering how reluctant he was to spend money on anything other than his hobby, especially when it came to his parents’ money, it was a big deal to everyone present. Sooyoung, seizing the opportunity, made sure to order even more food plus takeout for her meal tomorrow. "But you still owe me one..." she said with a mischievous grin as she ate.

Dokja rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help but smile. "Alright, but if my parents say anything, don’t forget to keep up the story."

Sooyoung stared at him, chewing thoughtfully, "Right, right, but rat, we definitely need to see that guy of yours in person." At Dokja’s questioning glance, she elaborated. "We need to judge him, duh! To make sure you don’t fall for his hot guy charms, and that he doesn’t take advantage of your… patheticness," Sooyoung ended with a scrunched nose, pointing a chopstick at him with every syllable.

He smiled, ignoring the jab at him. "Alright, I will bring him next time we hang out," he promised.

Jiwon put her hands together conspiratorially. “I’d have Dokja-ssi bring him sooner rather than later if I were you, Sooyoung-ssi. It seems like Joonghyun-ssi is already being captured by his charm, rather than the reverse. Making sure that Dokja-ssi sleeps and spreading his pheromones all over him, it’s like he’s already trying to claim him. So romantic!~” she squealed.

Dokja huffed at her, though Sooyoung and Sangah just laughed at his embarrassment. "You guys say this, but then always lecture me to be careful around the guy. At this point, I don't know anymore." he muttered, fidgeting with the corner of his napkin. While the women continued for a few seconds, it was Sangah who lay her hand over his.

"But really Dokja-ssi, you look more relaxed these days. And it looks like Joonghyun-ssi is doing a good job taking care of you. If he turns out to be who he presents himself as, and if you feel like there’s a spark of something between you two, we’ll be right there as your wingwomen."

This made Dokja look at her dumbfounded. He looked over at the two the women. Jiwon was nodding adamantly at Sangah’s words, while Sooyoung just leaned back casually in her seat, holding up her soju bottle in cheers as she grinned toothily at him. Dokja quickly shook his head dismissively. "No, it's fine...I can't."

All of them frowned. "Why?" Sangah asked, her voice gentle but concerned.

Dokja stared at them like it was obvious. “ You guys already saw what he looked like. An alpha like him being with me, especially as I am right now. It’d just be a disservice to him," he stated bitterly.

All of them stared at him with mixed expressions, making him feel uncomfortable. It wasn't as if what he said was wrong.

"Does he make you happy?" Jiwon asked, her face serious.

"Yes...but—"

"Then there's no problem with it," Jiwon cut him off firmly. This made him even more frustrated. He felt like she wasn't understanding him at all. Just as he was about to say something, she continued, "Dokja-ssi... we don’t mean to push you into anything. If you want to get to know him more so you're ready if you ever feel something for him, then go for it. But we want you to be happy, with or without him. If you need time for yourself before that, then that’s fine too."

Her words were like a gentle wave, washing over him, calming his turmoil. He knew what she was trying to say, but at the same time, it was scary. What if the Joonghyun he knew right now changed when he found out? Or after he got his memories back? He didn't know what he would do if that happened. But it was alright... in the first place, he didn't have any chance. Joonghyun would find someone who was good for him, and that person wasn't Dokja.

He pushed the thought away, trying to focus on the present moment. He was with his friends, enjoying good food and good company. That was all that mattered.

He thanked them, appreciative for their worry. Then Sooyoung, who was in the middle of eating, stopped, her eyes widening. "Wait, stop..." Everyone looked at her. "I just realized, you named Joonghyun from one of my novels!" She burst into a fit of ugly cackling, Sangah was back on duty to reign her in.

"Don’t laugh!"

"I'm back..." Dokja called out to the house, light from the living room spilling over into the entrance hall. As he kneeled down to undo his shoelaces, Joonghyun came padding over to him.

"Welcome ba—” Joonghyun cut himself off and leaned towards Dokja, scrunching his nose, “ Did you go to an afterwork party? You smell like alcohol.”

Dokja smiled back at him, setting his shoes aside. "Oh, sorry about that. Sangah planned a last-minute meetup with her girlfriend to try a new restaurant. I’ll text you about it next time." After he stumbled a bit, Joonghyun went over to support him. "I'm not too drunk, Sooyoung hogged up most of the soju. Though, it didn’t help that Sangah and Jiwon started that beer chugging contest."

Joonghyun looked at Dokja’s lightly flushed face and chuckled to himself. "Sounds like you had fun tonight—Be careful, watch out for the stair steps." Dokja nodded along. "Yeah, definitely... It's been a while since we’ve all caught up. They’re good friends." As he spoke, he got quieter and quieter as his lethargy caught up to him.

"Mhm..." Joonghyun responded with a low rumble. They continued to make their way towards Dokja's bedroom, slowing down to accommodate Dokja’s wobbly balance. Dokja, lost in the intoxicating scent emanating from Joonghyun, leaned more and more of his weight onto the alpha. He couldn't help but savor the moment, the warmth of Joonghyun's body against his, the soft brush of Joonghyun's hair against his cheek. It was a simple gesture, but it meant the world to him.

But of course, for Joonghyun it was much more than a simple gesture. With how close Dokja was nuzzling his face to his scent gland, the action was more intimate than what was appropriate between an unmated alpha and omega. Joonghyun shoved down the feeling of his inner alpha preening in contentment. Dokja wasn't his omega, and most importantly he was inebriated. He grabbed Dokja's shoulder, putting some distance between them. Immediately, Dokja groaned in annoyance, looking at him with a pout.

Cute

"Dokja, we're already in front of your room. You should rest now." Dokja blinked at him owlishly, slowly turning his attention towards his room. Though, rather than entering, he just stood there shifting his feet around, trading conflicted glances between Joonghyun and his bedroom. After a few moments, Joonghyun had an idea of what was making him so hesitant "By any chance…did you want more of my pheromones?" The look he received in response was wide-eyed and innocent, like a child who had been caught red-handed.

Joonghyun stared at him thoughtfully, before removing his shirt and offering it to Dokja. The piece of clothing wasn’t accepted immediately, the other man too busy staring at him, dumbfounded. It could’ve been from surprise from the sudden action, though from how long his gaze lingered on Joonghyun’s bare chest, he suspected (hoped) that it was from something else.

"Did you want to take it?" Joonghyun asked after letting Dokja take in the sight. This brought Dokja back to reality. He looked at the black shirt in front of him, still a little dazed.

"I... yes." His fingers curled into the cool fabric, holding it against him like it was something precious. With a timid ‘goodnight’ Dokja finally retreated into his bedroom, closing the door behind him. Joonghyun stood outside the door, the interaction repeating itself in his mind. A draft of air soon reminded him of his current state of undress, and he went back to his own room.

Dokja leaned against his door, listening to Joonghyun's fading footsteps. He then put his hands on his face, his cheeks still burning with embarrassment. Upon entering his room and having a few moments to himself without being surrounded by Joonghyun’s presence and pheromones, some amount of lucidity returned to him. He couldn't believe how he imposed himself into Joonghyun’s space. It felt like he was a stereotypical omega, trying to seduce an alpha.

Though, as he pressed his nose into the shirt and let the scent of cedarwood flow through him, Dokja couldn’t bring himself to completely regret it. He closed his eyes, his shoulders relaxing at the aroma. Removing his white choker and the patches on his wrists, his natural scent mixed with Joonghyun’s. It grounded him like nothing else. It felt like home.

This was supposed to be the part when he tucked the shirt into his nest and buried himself in the comforting scents of his loved ones, ending the day by allowing his inner omega to unwind. Yet, crisp white sheets were the only thing that lay on his bed. They were clean and perfectly made, barely a wrinkle on them. His pheromones shifted, distress filling the room. It wasn’t fair. No matter how many pillows, blankets and clothes he piled together, his nests never turned out right. He’d spend days on end mustering up the courage to ask his friends and family for their clothes to add in, just to return to them with his tail tucked between his legs, having to tell them that things just didn’t work out. Their pitying looks lingered in his mind. It should’ve been instinct for him, so why couldn't he just do it?

"You think you deserve anything after destroying the peace of our family?!"

"Stealing our clothes just to make that pathetic nest? You're a criminal just like your mother. If you don’t learn now, you’ll rot in jail right next to her. Is that what you want?"

A low whine bounced off the walls of his room. It took Dokja a minute to realize it was coming from him. But even as he buried his head in his arms, clutching it with both hands, the memories continued to pour in.

"Both the tissue of his scent gland and skin surrounding it were severely damaged. The operation was a success, and the sutures should be able to hold them together as they heal, though several follow-ups will be needed to monitor its progress. I’d also advise a psychological evaluation for your child, not only due to the nature of his situation, but to benefit the recovery process. The key to healing is a comfortable environment and a stable mental space."

"But with that, I’m afraid there is an unfortunate aftermath of his injuries that I must also inform you of.”

The words echo in his mind, a constant reminder of his brokenness. He couldn't even be a proper omega.

"In addition to infertility, there's a 98% chance he will never develop his ability to mate."

Chapter Text

Chapter 18: Panic Attack

"You fucking animal, wake up!" A voice yelled, the pounding against his door shaking him awake. The floorboards creaked under him as he groggily sat up, his ‘bed’ being two ratty blankets, one that he slept on and another that served as a cover. The room itself was barely more than a closet. If he stretched his arms in both directions, the walls would lay just beyond his fingertips.

"Wake up! You piece of shit, I said wake up!" His aunt yelled again. The pounding continued, the sound echoing in the small room.

Another yell came from somewhere else in the house. "Mom, help me pack up my things!" It was his cousin.

The loud knocking stopped, and his aunt shouted back, "I will...!" She turned back to the door and hissed under her breath, "You brat, be up and ready to go after I help Yujin, or I'll breaking this fucking door!" She hurried away to help her son, her footsteps fading.

Dokja just sighed before standing up, his joints popping as he stretched to relieve his sore body. Grabbing his towel and uniform to go to the bathroom, he took a deep breath to calm himself. Every time he had to leave his room, he had to take a few seconds to mentally prepare himself for whatever they would do to him. His aunt would be busy helping Yujin, so at least she was out of the way. But as he walked past the living room, he spotted his uncle reading the newspaper at the table. Dokja tried passing by without bothering him, but his uncle called out to him.

"Boy, before you leave for school, wash the dishes and clean up the kitchen. It’s the least you can do," he ordered without looking away from his newspaper.

"Y-yes..." Dokja nodded hastily before walking away. His uncle was the only one who never raised a hand against him, but it didn't mean he was a saint. Dokja learned very quickly that the man only withheld himself from doing so because he viewed omegas as housekeepers and caretakers too incompetent and weak to do anything else on their own. It was always:

"Clean the house. You'll need to learn when you get married."

"It's the omega's job to take care of the house."

"You should be thanking me for helping you."

Though his strange complex on omegan status didn’t compel him to stop his wife or child from lashing out on Dokja. The wounds he got from them stung as he tried his best to wash himself. Trying to minimize the cost of accompanying him in their home, he wasn’t allowed to use hot water.

After getting out of the shower, Dokja patted his body dry and sat on the toilet to apply ointment and bandages to his wounds, the ones that still weren't healing. Half the meager allowance that he was given went to buy first aid supplies on a regular basis, though they never lasted for long, even when he was trying to use them as sparingly as possible. The other half went to simple convenience store kimbap. He looked at his body in the mirror, and he couldn't help but smile bitterly. Big, dark eyebags and choppy hair. He could see the shape of his ribs, and the concave that his stomach made. Everyone says omegas should take care of themselves, preen regularly to attract that right alpha to sweep them away. What a joke.

Just as his uncle had ordered him to, Dokja headed to the kitchen after dressing himself to see that the sink had piles of dirty dishes, the family having eaten without him.

"What took you so long? Any longer and flies might start coming." Rather than answering his aunt, Dokja chose to pull on the gloves and start washing the dishes. She was always cranky in the morning. He’d be too if he had to wake up to having a worthless husband and son everyday. She just reveled in having someone more pitiful than her to pick on.

"What’s that face you're making? Ignoring me now, huh?"

“…”

She leaned over the counter, uncomfortably close to him. Manicured fingers twirled his uneven bangs. "You know...every day that passes, you like more and more like that mother of yours. The only thing you got from your bastard father was his black hair eyes. Everything else was her’s,” She sounded thoughtful, melancholic almost. Then she grabbed his chin, forcing Dokja’s attention on her. “Isn’t that just wonderful? The face of a criminal fits you much more than the features of an innocent omega.” Her smile was a cruel one. She cackled to herself quietly as she walked out of the kitchen, leaving Dokja to stew in her words.

Dokja remained quiet, his fist tightening around the plate he was holding. But standing there and seething to himself wouldn’t get anything done. He needed to go to school.

Dokja continued washing the dishes.

Someone was following him.

Hoping that they’d get a clue, Dokja walked faster to try to shake them off. But it only encouraged them to approach him.

"Kim Dokja, right? There have been several points of speculation concerning your mother’s biography and your involvement, or lack thereof, in it," she began, but he didn’t acknowledge her. He tried to walk past her, but she blocked his path. "Just a moment, I just need to know—hey!" She was interrupted when Dokja accidently bumped into her side while running away. Luckily for him the reporter’s heels stopped her from pursuing him. The whole way he ignored her shouts to come back.

He ran and ran until he didn't see her anymore. Even then, he ducked into alleyways and made sure to inspect every passerby he came across. There was no telling with reporters. One moment they were just some concerned adult trying to help him cross the street, the next they were questioning him about the most intimate parts of his life. He couldn't stand adults, they were manipulative, self-interested narcissists.

Eventually, Dokja came to a stop, deciding that he'd gone far enough to shake off any other reporter that may have caught sight of him. He leaned against a wall, trying to catch his breath.

“Look over there. That kid, isn’t he…”

“Shh, he might hear you!”

Dokja looked up to see two girls looking at him, the both of them scrambling off as soon as they made eye contact. They were wearing school uniforms, the same colors as his. Looking around, other students were passing by, some paying him strange glances and others apathetic to his presence. Only then did he realize that he’d unwittingly arrived in front of his school.

The concrete structure loomed over him, its many windows eyes that looked down at him like all the others. Every day he walked through those gates, subjecting himself to the torment that lay within. There was no rest for him, between his aunt’s family, school, and the reporters lingering on the streets.

"That's the killer, right?"

“Wasn’t that his mom?”

“Doesn’t matter. Look at his eyes, you can tell he’ll turn out like her. It’s probably in their blood.”

"Can't believe he can even show his face…"

"Hey, don't talk too loud. What if he tries attacking us?"

Stories. As long as he had eyes, he would always have stories. And as long as he had stories, he had an escape, no matter how temporary. He would never have a home, but at least he’d have something to return to. There, in the pages that he loved, their laughter and their words didn’t have to matter. Until high school was over and he could get out of this place, he had no choice but to tough it out.

The stares were always the worst part. The spiteful words and cutting laughter faded away. But the stares would follow him forever.

Dokja jolted up with a gasp, his harsh breaths filling up the darkened room. His chest heaved up and down as he took in as much air as his lungs could fit. Cold sweat made his shirt and hair cling uncomfortably to his skin. Covering his ears did nothing to block out the frantic beating of his heart.

The nauseating feeling of his stomach dropping sent chills throughout his body. His body lurched forward, and he retched in an effort to get rid of that all consuming emptiness in the pit of his stomach, but nothing came out. The burning taste of vomit lingered in the back of his throat, saliva running down his chin. Tears lingered precariously at the corner of his eyes.

He was breathing heavily, his chest constricting, like he couldn't get enough air. Dokja put his hand on his chest, trying to calm himself down. But then, a bright flash illuminated the room through the closed curtain.

For a second, it felt like the world held its breath.

Suddenly, a loud crack of thunder shredded through the air violently, making Dokja flinch back. The deep rumbling that underlie it pricked at the depths of Dokja’s ears. A heavy downpour of rain beat against the glass, flashes of lightning illuminating the room in quick bursts.

It was raining that night too.

That night when he ran through that maze of alleyways.

Outstretched fingers tried prying his clothes off.

The graze of teeth against his neck.

"Shit, stop it...!" he rasped out, curling in on himself and shutting his eyes tightly. No one was there to respond to him, his memories having no mercy to his pleas.

Through muffled ears Dokja heard the bedroom door slam open.

"You really were too easy to catch, Dokja-yah~" The voice, a mocking whisper, slowly approached him. Like a predator playing with his meal. Frozen in fear, Dokja clutched his sheets. Nothing would make a difference now. It was all he could do.

"Please, don’t do this!" He yelled back.

A hand grabbed his wrist. With a panicked wail, Dokja wretched himself from the grip, scrambling backward and tumbling to the floor. "Don't come any closer!" He yelled again, tears threatening to spill from his eyes as he tried to back away further. But the figure walked towards him again.

"Ha~ I'm trying to help you become a proper omega, you're the one who's making me the bad guy here."

Dokja's tears immediately flowed, burning, etching, like his skin was on fire. "S-stop..."

"Stop crying, I'm just trying to help you!"

"S-stop! Don't touch me!" The rain lashed harder, but he could still make out their laughter.

"Don't try to pretend like we're forcing you here."

"This is what you were meant to do."

The voices, the memories, they were suffocating him. He felt himself slipping away, losing control.

Maybe it was his fault, his karma...

But it hurt, everything hurt

He hated it

Someone, save—

"Kim Dokja!"

Someone shouted at him. Firm hands on his shoulders jostled him out of his spiral. The lamp beside his bed had been turned on and cast a warm light across the room, letting him see Joonghyun knelt in front of him, eyes widened with concern. Calming pheromones poured from Joonghyun, combatting the acrid smell of burnt paper which he recognized as his own panicked scent. The two men stared at each other, each unsure what to do after what they experienced in the past few moments.

For Dokja, there was no greater relief than having Joonghyun’s presence override the oppressing ghosts of his past. A quivering mess, Dokja tackled into Joonghyun’s arms with a miserable sob ripped from him just as Joonghyun opened his mouth to say something. He clung onto Joonghyun for dear life. In between gasping sobs, he tried to inhale as much of Joonghyun’s pheromones as he could. Joonghyun’s warm body and scent were the only thing grounding him as of now. Any less and he would plunge back into the hell that he had just escaped from.

Joonghyun, not expecting the weight, or any of this for the matter, grabbed Dokja’s waist to stop the both of them from toppling over. Dokja clung to him to a point that it was almost painful, but Joonghyun was able to navigate the both of them to a better position. Besides releasing calming pheromones, he was unsure of what to do to calm down Dokja, especially with the severe state he was in right now. He’d simply been woken up by the thunderstorm when he heard Dokja screaming. Running over to his room, a strong bitter scent seeped out the cracks of the door. His first thought was that an intruder had broken into the house, but slamming open the door had revealed…this.

Hesitantly, Joonghyun slowly brought a hand up to Dokja’s back. His hand hovered in place for a second, still unsure, but he finally set it down and started stroking a small path up and down his back. At first contact, Dokja’s whole body flinched. Joonghyun stilled, panicking that he’d done something wrong. But gradually, Dokja relaxed, signaling him to keep going.

"Don't leave me, please..." He cried quietly, still buried in Joonghyun’s neck.

Joonghyun continued his motions.

“Dokja… I won’t. But what happened, can you tell me that?”

He tried making enough space between them so that they could look at each other, but Dokja refused to let go for even a second. To Joonghyun’s question, he shook his head vigorously. "I'm begging you, don't leave me," he repeated, his voice choked with emotion. Joonghyun felt his shirt get wet, soaked with his tears. Another clap of thunder shook the room, making Dokja flinch again and hug him even tighter.

Joonghyun’s heart clenched. It didn’t look like Dokja was in any state to answer him right. Resigned to the present, his arms tightened around Dokja's frame and he started producing more pheromones. Anything that would help calm down Dokja.

Eventually Dokja tired himself out crying. An explanation would have to wait for tomorrow. For now, Joonghyun opted to move the both of them onto Dokja’s bed, Doja now safe and secured under his blanket. Even unconscious, he clung unto him. Joonghyun stared at the ceiling in contemplation, his hand resting on Dokja's waist as he held him close. Whatever sent him into a panic like that must’ve been haunting him for a long time now. And based on what Dokja said in his trance, it wasn’t just something that traumatized him, but someone. Joonghyun‘s fist clenched.

He wouldn't deny that he was curious about what had happened. Who was the fucker who had caused him to react like this?

Beside him, Dokja whined, his lips tugging down. In his contemplation, Joonghyun’s pheromones had turned bitter, smelling of burnt ashes. Taking a deep breath, Joonghyun recentered his thoughts and looked at Dokja, now sleeping peacefully on his chest. It was okay now, he was okay. The rain was still pouring outside, the storm still raging and showing no signs of letting up. The sky was too dark, the thunder too loud. There was no way Dokja could go to work right now, especially after what had happened. He would be safe here, in Joonghyun's arms until it passed.

Until then, it left him with time to find out exactly who hurt Dokja to this point.

It seemed that the world was on his side with this one, because just then, Dokja’s phone began to ring on the nightstand. Joonghyun was quick to silence the phone. Glancing at Dokja, the phone’s noise hadn’t bothered him, and he remained blissfully asleep. Looking back, the caller ID was displayed as ‘Witch’. From what Joonghyun remembered, this must’ve been the author friend that Dokja was close with. A perfect source of information.

He picked up the call.

[“Yo, rat, today’s your lucky day…night, whatever. My editor pissed me off so you get to be my honorary editor just until the other one comes crawling back. I’ll pay you with chapter previews, what do you say?"] Her voice was cheerful, almost annoyingly so.

"This isn't Kim Dokja," Joonghyun said, in his usual flat, cold tone. The woman fell silent.

["So... you're Joonghyun, right?"] The woman guessed, a hint of suspicion creeping into her voice. [“Wait, why the hell do you have his phone, what did you do to him?! I swear to god, I’ll call the cops right now!”] Midway through Sooyoung yelling, Joonghyun held the phone away, not wanting the noise to disturb Dokja.

"Relax, whatever you’re imagining didn’t happen. He’s sleeping right now, so I answered for him."

["And why exactly are you just looming over him while he sleeps? Dokja didn’t say anything about you two being together."]

Joonghyun became quiet, his eyes flickering towards Dokja, who was still sleeping peacefully. "…Actually, that’s the other reason I picked up your call. Dokja just came off of a panic attack."

["What?!"] Sooyoung yelled at him. ["What happened?! You didn't do something to trigger it, did you?!"]

"No, I didn't. A little while after he went to bed I heard him screaming in his room. When I went to calm him down, he only got more scared. It looked like he was hallucinating something," Joonghyun said, his fingers gently brushing Dokja's soft hair. Sooyoung became quiet, so Joonghyun continued. "If you know anything about this then—"

But Sooyoung cut him off before he could finish. ["Don't... I know what you're going to ask, but I'm not in any position to answer that."]

Joonghyun had a feeling this would be the outcome, but a selfish part of him was still dissatisfied at not getting the answer he wanted. "…fine, I understand." Someone as close to Dokja as she was wouldn’t give him what he wanted to know that easily.

With that topic out of the window, Sooyoung then asked, ["Anyway, how’s he holding up now?"]

He grunted, "He was able to calm down eventually, he fell asleep just a few minutes ago."

["That's good to hear. Until the storm lets up and we can visit, I’m trusting you to take care of him,"] or else was the unspoken warning in her tone.

Sooyoung went quiet for a couple of seconds. Joonghyun was about to hang up the call when she sighed, ["Look, I know I shouldn't say this, but you already saw what happened to him, so…"] Sooyoung paused, making him raise an eyebrow. ["The only thing I can say right now is... Song Minwoo,"] she said, her voice low and serious. He frowned.

["If you want a bastard to blame this on, it's him."]

Chapter Text

Chapter 19: Affection, But Dokja is a bit dumb

"We were happy, before you… everything was looking up, and things were peaceful."

“But the moment I took my eyes off of her, that bitch just had to have you”

"GIVE ME MY LIFE BACK!”

"YOU AND YOUR MOTHER, ALL OF THIS IS YOUR FAULT! YOU DESERVE THIS!"

Everything was blurry. Father was yelling something at him, as he always was, knocking him to the ground with a harsh slap. Though, today he was acting strangely erratic. Maybe he’d been able to get his hands on more drinks than usual. The neck of a soju bottle was already in his grip, though it was completely empty. He couldn't make out his father’s face, it was hazy, or maybe he had already forgotten what it looked like.

Then, his mother’s figure ran in front of him, lunging forward just as his father began raising the bottle above his head. There was the squelch of metal into flesh, his mother’s body pressed up against his father’s. Her hair was messy, like it had never been combed. Long sleeves and pants hid her wounds. But as her husband’s spasming body had dropped limply, he knew that there would be no use hiding anything now. His mother turned back to him; her eyes bloodshot with hatred. She was crying, but she still smiled. A twisted, cruel smile. "It's ok Dokja-yah... the bad man is gone."

Dokja opened his eyes with a gasp, seeing the white paint of the ceiling. His hands clutched the front of his shirt, the hectic beating of his heart drummin against his knuckles. He tried to stand up, but an arm wrapped around his neck prevented him from doing so. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end a someone’s breath brushed against his nape, freezing him in place. Daring to take a glance over his shoulder, he saw Joonghyun peacefully holding him, sleeping soundly.

The shock only lasted for a second as the memories of last night came back to him, of how he had begged Joonghyun to stay with him while crying like a child, too scared to be alone. Now, the regret of showing such a pathetic side of himself lingered. He was the one responsible for helping Joonghyun, not the other way around. Joonghyun was the one who’d forgotten his memories, yet here he was, burdening him with the weight of his own past.

Dokja bit his lower lip, his eyes closing briefly. Why couldn't he just be normal, for god's sake? Was that too much to ask?

Opening his eyes, he let Joonghyun’s relaxed sleeping face dissolve some of his turmoil. He was like a puppy, all soft and innocent. Such a change from when he was awake, his face all set and serious. Dokja couldn't help but chuckle, a little sound that escaped his lips. He pinched Joonghyun's cheek, making a funny, slightly squished look on his face. He couldn't help it. He looked so open when he was asleep. And Dokja couldn't help but feel a pang of affection for him.

He stopped what he was doing, his fingers gently resting on Joonghyun's cheek. It was warm, soft. The scent of Joonghyun's pheromones filling the air, scenting the entire bed. Dokja hugged him closer, staring at his face. He could admit it. He liked Joonghyun, just a little bit. But that's all it needed to be. In time, his feelings would fade or Joonghyun would regain his memories and return to his original life, whichever came first. It was better to listen to his brain more than his heart. His heart was just trying to confuse him.

Joonghyun groaned, making Dokja quickly pull his hand away. When Joonghyun opened his eyes, Dokja smiled at him. "Good morning."

Joonghyun stared at him blearily for a moment, blinking the sleep from his eyes before replying. His voice was still deep and raspy from just waking up, sending pleasant shivers up Dokja’s back.

"How was your sleep, did you have any more nightmares?” Joonghyun asked him.

Dokja shook his head. “My sleep was about as good as I can expect it to be these days. Thank you for keeping me company, it helped a lot.”

Joonghyun nodded, then he removed his arms from Dokja. It almost made Dokja whine, but he thankfully managed to stop himself. He looked up to see Joonghyun sitting up on the bed, shirtless. Dokja's face flushed red. He looked away, closing his eyes, trying to ignore the view. Joonghyun was making it hard for him, this wasn't fair!

"Anything you want to eat?" Joonghyun asked, his hands searching around the bed for his shirt. Dokja, looking anywhere but at him, turned his head into his pillows.

"Doesn’t matter... I’ll eat whatever you make anyways," Dokja muttered, his cheeks still red.

Joonghyun froze for a moment when he heard those words. He couldn't help but smile. "Really? I'm glad."

["—do you need one of us to come over? On our end Sangah is already packed up and ready to head over"]

Dokja smiled as he walked down the stairs. "No, it’s fine Sooyoung. I think I’ll be okay for today."

She sighed in relief. ["Well, that’s good, but..."] Her voice became a whisper. ["You sure that Joonghyun guy didn't do anything sketchy to you?"]

Dokja sighed again. "I told you, Joonghyun wouldn't ever do that. He helped me through my attack and didn’t even pry about it." Despite his words, Sooyoung still seemed to hold her skepticism.

[“Hmmm, I don’t know man. He invited himself into your bed right after your attack. Isn’t that a little weird?”]

“I was the one that asked him to stay with me! After something like that, I really wouldn’t want to be alone. His company helped, I promise!"

[“I know, I know… he doesn’t seem like a complete scumbag or anything. Just remember to only start seducing him when you’re 100% sure he’s good, I know you’re desperate and all, but hang in there for a bit!”]

"Oi, Sooyoung what the hell are you talking about?! Hey—did she really just…" In his hand, his phone displayed a ‘Call Ended’ message. Dokja sighed, shaking his head. But before he joined Joonghyun for breakfast, there was another phone call that he needed to make.

["This better be important,"] Bihyung sighed when the call connected.

Dokja bulldozed through the the other man's lethargy. "Bihyung!! How’s my favorite company employee doing?"

["If you want me to go along with another one of your schemes, at least have the decency to bribe me with something. Then I’d actually be getting something from it."] All too used to Dokja’s antics, it seemed that Bihyung was only half-focused on his conversation with him. Scribbles and clacking of the keyboard were heard over the line as Bihyung was no doubt working hard to fulfill his role in his parents’ company.

"Aww, I'm so happy to hear that!" Dokja said, his voice full of exaggerated enthusiasm. "Anywayyyyy, I'm calling because I need you to find me an investigator."

["Eh? Your parents already have some on hand, why not just ask them?"] Bihyung proposed absentmindedly.

Dokja rolled his eyes. "That’s no good, Bihyung. It’s for Joonghyun, after all...Unless you want to snitch on me to them?”

["Oh please, I would never. There’d no doubt they’re going to find out eventually, but no way am I going to be the one to break the news to them."]

"Hmph, good to know. Anyway, back to the topic. This whole ordeal has gone on long enough, and I can tell Joonghyun is starting to get antsy around here. Find a reliable investigator for me, one that'll be able to dig up his info as fast as they can."

["Just send me Joonghyuk’s picture and I’ll take care of everything else, no need for any further action on your end of things."]

Dokja raised an eyebrow. "Wait, really? Why are you so generous today? Did you want something from me?" he accused, his voice full of suspicion.

["Just fucking send it. Do you want it or not?"] Bihyung insisted impatiently.

Dokja chuckled off the man’s growing annoyance. "I’ll send one by the end of the day. Bye!" He ended the call, not even letting Bihyung say anything more. Despite his show of despising him, Dokja knew how capable Bihyung was, and no doubt whatever investigator he provided would get the job done in not time. Resolving this issue would take a huge weight off of Joonghyun’s chest, and he’ll finally be able to go back to the life he built for himself.

Though, the thought of Joonghyun’s regular presence in his home and life being taken away made something pang inside of Dokja’s chest. Having someone to talk to when he came home from work, looking forward to having dinner’s leftovers for lunch the next day. The goodbyes and I’m homes that they shared. When Joonghyun returned to his actual life, none of those would happen anymore.

"Dokja, are you still on the phone? Food’s ready," Joonghyun called for him, his voice pulling Dokja back to reality.

"Right, thanks!" Coming into the kitchen, Joonghyun had already put down a plate with bacon, fried rice, eggs, and even hotdogs. Just looking at it made Dokja hungry. He immediately sat down on the chair and grabbed the utensils. "Thanks for the food!" he said, his voice full of gratitude, before digging in.

From the other side of the counter, Joonghyun carefully observed him. To think that Dokja was dealing with such a terrible past all this time. It was a relief, seeing him in high spirits now compared to how he was last night. But considering how quickly he was able to bounce back from it, Joonghyun wondered how much of a regular occurrence this was for Dokja. "Hm, Joonghyuk? Are you gonna eat anything yourself? It’s so good!"

Joonghyun hummed, fixing up a plate for himself.

Now it was Dokja’s turn to observe Joonghyun and consider the effects of his panic attack on their relationship. The two of them sitting together like this had been as comfortable as any other breakfast they shared together, the two exchanging a few words with each other before focusing on their respective plates. But as a few minutes of silence passed by, the air filled with nothing but the clinking of utensils, it became increasing for stifling for Dokja. He couldn’t tell if the building awkwardness was palpable or if he was being overly self-conscious again.

It wasn't like Dokja wanted Joonghyun to ask about what transpired. The talk would be uncomfortable. But it was normal for people to be curious, right? Honestly though, he’d dumped a lot of emotional baggage on Joonghyun out of the blue last night, and anyone would be put off by it. But if that was the case, should they talk about it or should they continue to act as if nothing happened? What would happen if he had another panic attack? He didn’t want to force Joonghyun to deal with him during an episode if he didn’t want to. Now that he was thinking about it, he had no idea what exactly he had revealed to Joonghyun last night, if he’d accidentally let anything slip from his mouth during the whole ordeal. Had Joonghyun heard something that he didn’t want him to hear?

"Dokja."

Joonghyun’s voice snapped him back to his body. “You were spacing out again. Is something wrong?" he asked.

It caught Dokja off guard. He hadn’t even noticed that Joonghyun had been paying attention to him. Reigning in his surprise, Dokja smiled at him. "Yeah, sorry about that. I was just thinking about work. " He turned away from Joonghyun’s searching eyes to continue picking at his breakfast.

Joonghyun said nothing, following suit after a few seconds. But with how his gaze kept flicking towards Dokja, his concern was evident.

After they finished off their plates, Dokja went over to the sink and put on the rubber gloves. It’d become an unwritten rule in the household, Joonghyun cooking while Dokja washed the dishes. He was honestly thankful for it. Most people would expect him to do all the kitchen work, considering he was an omega. The last thing he’d expected when he’d invited this hulking alpha into his home was to get fresh groceries and a homecooked meal every day. He couldn't help but chuckle a little, the irony of it all.

“Did something funny happen?" Joonghyun leaned against the doorframe, his eyes curious. Dokja shifted his attention to him, a smile still playing on his lips.

"Oh, nothing. I just remembered something," he said, his eyes quickly returning to the plate he was washing. Joonghyun hummed, then walked towards him. Dokja didn't look at him, but he could hear his footsteps. "Don't worry about me here. Just relax in the living room," he said, his voice soft. Then he felt Joonghyun's presence behind him, warm and comforting. He frowned. "Joonghyun—," he began, but he didn't finish. Joonghyun buried his face into Dokja’s shoulder and rested his hands on the counter on either side of Dokja, trapping him in with his body.

Dokja stiffened, his heart pounding in his chest. Joonghyun's weight on his shoulder tickled a bit because of his hair, but he didn't push him away. He didn't know why. He should push him away. They were too close for him to bear. His heart was beating too fast. He closed his eyes, trying to ignore the sensation of Joonghyun's warmth pressing against his back, the scent of his pheromones filling his senses. He was too close. He was too close to Joonghyun, too close to the warmth of his affection, too close to the allure of his scent.

"J-joonghyun... what are you... doing?" He asked, his voice a little shaky, his breath coming out in short, rapid bursts.

Joonghyun didn't answer immediately. Only after a couple of seconds of thinking did he finally provide a response in the form of his own question. "Is it okay that I want to hold you?"

Dokja didn't know what to say. He turned off the sink and pulled off his gloves, contemplating his next words. "I-I don’t know what to say to that Joonghyun…"

From where he rested his head, Joonghyun could smell a hint of nervous pheromones leaking through Dokja’s nape. Wanting to get his intentions across, he continued speaking. "I may not know everything that happened to you but... I know that you’ve spent all this time bearing it all by yourself, letting it eat away at your mind," he quietly remarked, remembering how he heard Dokja whimpering in his sleep, apologizing over and over, his voice choked with tears. "It’s useless for me to contemplate about things that have already past… but right now, I’d like to be here for you," Joonghyun said, his voice soft, almost hesitant.

Dokja didn't say anything. He couldn't. Joonghyun’s gentle words had ripped him bare and prodded at his insides, ever so delicate as they pricked his nerves. But in their prodding, they hit a rather sensitive spot. Dokja clenched his fist. "No, you shouldn’t," his voice tight with bitterness.

"Why not?" Joonghyun asked, his voice laced with confusion.

"Because..." Dokja hesitated, his words catching in his throat. He didn't know how to make him understand. How to convey everything he wanted to. "Well, why would I want to burden you with any of my business," he finally settled on, his body sagging from tiredness. This short conversation had taken all the strength he’d just got back this morning. "You’ve already had to see enough as it is, Joonghyun. This isn’t something I want anyone else to see from me. No one should go through that trouble for me of all people."

Dokja put a hand on Joonghyun’s arm, trying to push it away. "Let go," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

"Dokja, what I want is to help you with this—I want to see you free from this. You’re more than worth whatever trouble you think you are," Joonghyun argued back, not stepping away.

"Don't say things you don’t mean," he spat harshly, his voice cracking. Tears brimmed at the edge of his eyes, threatening to spill over. He didn't know why he was being like this. Maybe it was the shock. Maybe it was the fact that someone like Joonghyun could see him for what he was.

Turning to face Joonghyun, he tried pushing the man away, his breath coming in ragged gasps. But to no avail. The glare he shot at him was only met by a determined stare. "You don't know anything. Don't say things like that so easily!" he yelled.

"I'm just telling the truth," Joonghyun said, his tone calm, unfazed by Dokja's outburst. He didn't care if Dokja yelled at him. He knew what he was saying was true.

"Dokja, pleas—"

"I'm defective!!" Dokja finally broke, his words muffled as he buried his face in Joonghyun’s chest, not bearing to look him in the eyes any longer. Joonghyun’s shirt bunched up under Dokja’s tight grip on it. "Happy now? I can't give birth, I can't fucking make a nest… couldn’t even mate with you if I wanted to," The tears spilled over. "Why would you ever want to be with someone like that?"

He hurled his words like daggers, hoping to push Joonghyun away. It wasn’t worth being loved to be abandoned at the end.

"Kim Dokja," Joonghyun reached up to hold Dokja’s face, but he turned away.

"Please, just don’t bother with me," Dokja shook his head. "I want you to be happy. Out of the two of us, you’re the one that actually deserves it."

"It won’t be the same if I can’t be by your side," Joonghyun insisted, holding Dokja by his shoulders.

Dokja bitterly smiled. "Of course, because then you wouldn’t have something broken like me next to yo—" But Joonghyun was done listening to his nonsense. With a tender hold on Dokja’s cheek, Joonghyun pulled him closer. He set his lips on Dokja’s forehead first, kissing him as gently as he could. From there, he made his way down Dokja’s face, kissing his tears away, his cheek, the bridge of his nose, and anywhere else he could reach. Eventually he settled his forehead against Dokja’s, staring into eyes filled with shock.

"I want to be with you, Dokja. If you’ll have me, I’m happy right where I am right now," he reiterated, “If you want to turn me down, do it because you’re not interested, or because I’m not your type. Enough with the ‘I don’t deserve you’ bullshit. If you think I don’t know you, then let me learn. But be prepared, I’ll know everything about you from the inside out, and my feelings will never change," Joonghyun said with conviction, his eyes filled with a unwavering determination.

Dokja's heart ached. He wanted to believe him, but a deep-seated fear, a persistent doubt, gnawed at him.

That Joonghyun would learn soon enough, and he would be alone again.

Chapter Text

Chapter 20: Heats

Joonghyun and Dokja remained where they were, their foreheads pressed together as the both of them savored the quiet moment they had together after the tense conversation they just had. Joonghyun, his hand still resting on Dokja’s cheek, caressed the soft skin with his thumb. Even if Dokja didn’t completely believe in his feelings for him, Joonghyun hoped that he could at least crack through Dokja’s shell a little bit. From now on only his own efforts would determine if Dokja could accept his honesty. But before he could contemplate the matter any further, two things happened:

One, Dokja’s pensive scent suddenly became more intense, pheromones pouring out from his body at a rapid pace.

Two: Dokja swayed on his feet, stumbling to his side. Had Joonghyun not been there to catch him in his arms, he would have cracked his head on the floor.

“Ugh…wha…”

“Dokja! What’s happening, are you okay?” Joonghyun lowered Dokja down to let him sit on the floor. Even on the floor Dokja’s body swayed slightly, Joonghyun keeping a hand on his back to support him. Dokja brought a hand up to his flushed face, trying to stop his spinning vision. “Shit, this feeling, don’t tell me…” he dug through his pocket and pulled out his phone and checked the date. Confirming his suspicions, Dokja looked up at Joonghyun, a panicked look in his eyes.

“M-My heat. It’s here.”

Joonghyun took a sharp intake of breath, but after almost choking on Dokja’s pheromones he looked around the kitchen. Spotting an unused hand towel on the counter, he grabbed it and held it up against his nose, trying not to breathe in too much of the intoxicating scent. With one hand holding the hand towel, the other went to effortlessly scoop up Dokja up the floor and hold him like a sack of potatoes. Ignoring the confused noises coming from the omega, Joonghyuk ran up the stairs and roughly kicked open the door to Dokja’s bedroom, only juxtaposed by how gently he set Dokja down on his bed. A hand carefully guided Dokja to rest his head on his pillow. Its coolness helped to clear up a bit of the daze in his overheated body.

Blinking back the incoming haziness form his mind, Dokja saw Joonghyuk kneeling beside his bed, a serious look in his eyes.

“Dokja, what do you need me to do? Should I bring you something, do I leave you alone to take care of this?” The words were slightly muffled as he talked through the small towel. Joonghyun’s face was tense, with a vein bulging in his temple. Dokja faintly wondered how much his heightened pheromones were affecting Joonghyun. An omega’s heat pheromones were nothing to scoff at, and a measly towel wouldn't do much to stop them. Not that Dokja was holding up any better. The worried sent Joonghyun was unconsciously letting out paired with his own sensitive nose was enough to stimulate his heat-induced body.

A choked moan escaped Dokja’s lips.

“Your scent, it’s—” he gasped as he suddenly felt slick rush out his hole. His body, realizing an alpha was nearby, was accelerating his heat symptoms faster than he’d ever experienced. Dokja pressed his legs together, curling his body away from Joonghyun out of embarrassment. “Haah—downstairs, in the storage closet. Heat pills, a heated blanket, cooling patches….rut suppressants, scent masks, and blockers for you—ngh, hurry!”

Joonghyun nodded, wasting no time to run back down the stairs to get what he needed. The storage closet was right off from the living room, and with how small it was there was no problem locating the things that Dokja had listed off. First, he found the rut suppressants. It wouldn’t do much to calm down the interest that was already twitching in his pants, but at least he wouldn’t lose his mind. Swallowing down two of them dry, Joonghyun then opened the package of scent-blocking face masks. After considering the strength of Dokja’s scent that he just experienced, Joonghyun put on two of them, adding a third after more consideration. It felt even more suffocating than breathing through the towel, but he couldn’t take the chance of Dokja’s pheromones affecting him anymore than they already had.

After sticking on the scent blockers onto his neck and wrists, he grabbed the rest of the supplies Dokja mentioned, along with some of the soft throw pillows and blankets from Dokja’s couch. Even if he couldn’t make a nest for himself, Dokja still probably enjoyed having soft things around him during his heat, right? That was what Joonghyun hoped as he climbed back up the stairs. But right as he was about to reenter the bedroom, he looked towards his own in contemplation.
Just having alpha-scented material nearby could help lighten some of an omega’s more painful heat symptoms, or so he heard. As if on cue, a pained whine came from Dokja’s room. Through the slightly opened door, Joonghyun spotted Dokja curling in on himself, hands pressing over his stomach.

'TAKE CARE OF OUR OMEGA,' his alpha instincts screamed at him.

That settled it for Joonghyun. He went through his room, filling up his arms with his bedding and some of the clothes in his laundry hamper.

Returning to Dokja’s side, the omega was still curled up with his back to his door. Though, he was very obviously rubbing his legs together, no doubt trying to relieve some of the heat building up in his lower body. He panted heavily, hints of high-pitched moans and whines filling the room. The face masks that Joonghyun put on were much better at keeping out the pheromones, but he could still make out a decent part of the scent. Joonghyun cleared his throat, trying to get Dokja’s attention.

Right away, Dokja stopped what he was doing. “O-Oh, Joonghyun, you’re back…? What’s with all the other stuff?” With a bit of effort, Dokja managed to sit, flustered at being caught but curious about what Joonghyun was carrying.

“Some things to make your heat more comfortable,” Joonghyun explained, putting most of it on the edge of the bed. Handing the bottle of pills and cooling patches Dokja. Joonghyun plugged in the heated blanket, laying it over Dokja’s stomach after he applied the cooling patches. He was given an appreciative smile as Dokja took one of the pills. He set the bottle down on his nightstand afterward.

“You really didn’t have to bother with all the extra stuff, I normally tough it out just like this,” Dokja huffed, slightly self-conscious about how much of how satisfied his omega was with Joonghyun’s care. Joonghyun gave him a reprimanding stare.

“Well, while I’m here, your heat should a little more bearable.”

Joonghyun picked at the other pillows, blankets, and clothes that he brought for Dokja, looking back and forward between the small pile and the space around the bed with a pensive expression. “I don’t know how omegas build their nests. I’ll need your help telling me what’s comfortable or not.”

Dokja shrugged his shoulders helplessly. “Your guess is as good as mine. I don’t think it matters all that much.” Joonghyun wasn’t satisfied with the answer, but he proceeded in arranging the materials around him. Sometimes Dokja chimed in with little suggestions about the placement of certain things, and Joonghyun always made sure to get his approval before moving on to the next item.

Though, it was getting harder and harder for both of them to remain in each other’s company as the heat progressed.

When Dokja got ahold of Joonghyun’s pillow, he became progressively less coherent as the seconds ticked by, and more engrossed in inhaling as much as the scent from it as he could. This effect heightened as Joonghyun set his blanket and clothes around on the bed, Dokja producing more slick and pheromones as he greedily tried to pull all of Joonghyun’s belonging towards himself, eventually sprawling across the bed like a cat. In turn, it was getting harder for Joonghyun to withstand the sheer amount of heat pheromones Dokja was pumping out, and he could feel his rationality becoming nonexistent.

They were both panting and overheated. Joonghyun needed to get out of here right now, before things escalated. Basically throwing the last piece of his clothes on the bed, Joonghyun got up and rushed to the door, holding it in front of him like a lifeline.
“Dokja, I’ll leave you to your heat now. I’ll come by for your meals, okay?”

The response he got was a loud moan as Dokja nuzzled into his pillow, Joonghyun’s thick blanket wrapped around his body and held tightly between his legs.

No, he was not jealous of his own bedding.

He wasn’t.

His cue to escape was when Dokja started impatiently pulling off his clothes with a frustrated grunt. Pulled out of his ogling, Joonghyun turned away and closed the door. He ran a hand over his face. The next few days would be immensely challenging for the both of them.

Shaking away fuzziness that filled his head, Joonghyun headed to his room. He needed a cold shower.

“…”

“…”

“…"

‘Click’

["Yo, what do you need squid, I’m busy here since Sang—"]

“You aren’t Yoo Sangah.”

["Eh? You again, bastard? I could say the exact same thing, why do you have Dokja’s phone again?"]

“Dokja went into his heat."

["…"] Silence came over the line, long enough that Joonghyun looked at the phone to see if the call had disconnected. Then he heard a long-suffering sigh coming from Sooyoung. ["God dammit, did all of this really need to happen all at once? His luck’s been in the gutters lately."]

Joonghyun had no response to that, so he turned back to the original topic. “Is Yoo Sangah there, I need her to call in Dokja’s absence from the office for the next few days."

["…About that. Symptoms of her rut just started. Don’t worry though, I can put in a word for the both of them. For now, just focus on making sure Dokja stays safe during his heat. And don't event think about fucking him through it, neither of you would be able to control yourselves.”]

Joonghyun raised an eyebrow at her words. “For someone so skeptical about me, you’re putting a surprising amount of trust in me this time around,” he observed.

He heard Sooyoung scoff over the line. ["Not like me or Sangah can do much for him when we’re both covered in rut pheromones right now. Though, he vouched for you and is even comfortable enough to go into heat while an alpha like you is in the same house. That’s saying something",] she continued on, ["Besides, when they first bought the house for him, Dokja’s parents poured a shit ton of money into renovating his bedroom for his heats. The walls should be insulated so that his scent doesn’t leak out too much. Just makes sure he stays in there and that he gets some nutrients in his body, and you should be good to go."]

Joonghyun made sure to make a mental note of her words. He was going to ask her if there was any more he needed to know about Dokja’s heat when something interrupted their call.

["Sooyoung, what are you doing, the bath has been ready for a while now~"] the other familiar voice had sounded normal enough, but it had undertones of something more suggestive.

Some shuffling was heard from the other end. ['Haha, I’ll be right over Sangah, there was just something I needed to take care o—umph!"] Sooyoung was suddenly cut off, and Joonghyun didn’t need to be a detective to figure out what the sounds coming after that were. Getting the clue that the conversation was over, he hung up.

Hopefully she’d remember to put in that leave of absence for the both of them.

A little over two days had passed since Dokja first started his heat.

True to Sooyoung’s words, Dokja’s pheromones were sealed inside his room, the only times Joonghyun ever got a small whiff of them when he was walking past his bedroom or dropping off some of the food. While he was happy that he didn’t need to bear Dokja’s scent for the several days he experienced his heat, Joonghyun was having trouble getting through this for a completely different reason than he thought he would.

As good as the walls were at keeping in the pheromones, they did nothing to dampen the noise. And Joonghyun was not prepared for how loud Dokja could get.

The almost constant moaning and cries coming from the room made it hard for Joonghyun to stay in the house all day for a variety of reasons, even when he was busy occupying himself with house chores. He was sure that he heard at least a few broken variations of his own name through the walls. So, his morning run around the neighborhood became longer and he made sure to take his sweet time on his grocery trip so at least he wouldn't be completely occupied in listening to the walls.

Though, during the night when he had nowhere else to go to avoid the noises, his bed and shower were his only refuges. But Joonghyun was no saint. After the first day he stopped letting himself feel bad for getting off on Dokja. Whether he was using the sound coming through the walls, or the clothes that Dokja’s pheromones clung onto, he enjoyed them all without shame. But just because this was the case didn’t mean that Joonghyun laid around in his bedroom pleasuring himself all day.

No no, Joonghyun was an alpha of class and refinement.

He carried on with his daytime routine with surprising ease, preparing breakfast, lunch, and dinner, cleaning the house, working out, getting his daily intake of video games. Though, some changes did happen to it to accommodate for Dokja's heat.

After researching some more on his phone, he read that omegas had extreme fluctuating energy levels during their heats, expending all of it while mating, and then going into deep sleep in between to recover it. Omegas were built to recover energy with much more efficiency during their heats so they could focus on mating, so the cycle of intense mating followed by rapid deep sleep could happen four to even five times a day. Of course, the only way them to keep up with this erratic cycle was for them to have an abundance of highly nutritious meals before and during their heats. It was getting Dokja to eat in the middle of his heat that had been one of Joonghyun’s biggest worries. At least, until he read that omegas often took the small sliver of time just after waking up from their naps to get their food in. It was the time when they had the most lucidity, allowing them to take care of their bodies’ physical needs before going back to mating.

One of the convenient things about Dokja’s thin bedroom walls was that Joonghyun could tell when Dokja was having a lull in his heat. When Dokja went quiet, that was the sign for Joonghyun to prepare a tray of food for him and tiptoe into the room while he was asleep to set on the nightstand. The next time he brought food in, he’d collect the previous tray to wash the plates and utensils. Judging by how almost all of it was devoured whenever he came by to collect it, he’d say that it was a system that worked for both of them.

The randomness of Dokja’s sleep intervals meant that Joonghyun had to meal prep lots of food, rather than cooking up a fresh meal each time he fell asleep. His inner alpha complained that premade meals weren’t good enough for their omega, but for now they just had to make do.

Additionally, it didn’t get any easier for him to enter Dokja’s bedroom. Dokja had decided to abandon all his clothes on the first day, leaving Joonghyun with the torturous task of pointedly not staring at him every time he entered and left the room. From the hints of Dokja's body that he could spot through the corner of his eye, he could see that his skin was always flushed a beautiful shade of red, the sound of worn-out panting following him as he walked in.

And no matter how many masks he wore, pheromones still seeped through. It was a battle every time Joonghyun had to go in, one that he could only win by completely shutting down the instincts screaming at him to claim the vulnerable omega in front of him, swiftly going in, doing what he needed to do, and getting the hell out.

He could bear this for a couple more days, for Dokja.

There was a problem.

Well, ever since the start of Dokja’s heat, Joonghyun had several ‘problems’ he needed to take of, but the one he was facing now was especially poignant.

It was the fourth day of Dokja’s heat. The periods of time that Dokja would spend asleep were gradually getting longer and the pheromones weren’t as strong as they were just the day before, so Joonghyun came to the conclusion that he was gradually coming off his heat. It was a good thing too. The bed sheets and clothes were completely soaked with slick, semen, and sweat, and the same could be said about Dokja. With the pheromones going down, Joonghyun decided that it was about time to wash and replace all the bedding and resupply some of his scented clothes. He’d also give Dokja a quick bath as he rested.

Once he was sure Dokja was sleeping, Joonghyun readied himself with the facemask’s masks and scent blockers and entered the room. He went to turn on the faucet to the tube in the bathroom first, letting it fill up with hot water as he picked up the cloth scattered around the bed. It was easy enough to do it without bothering Dokja, and he was able to carry all of it downstairs to soak them in the sink in the laundry room, which he had previously filled with water and detergent. He came back with replacement bedding and clothes to put on the bed after the bath. The tub had already been filled up, so all that was left to do was carefully wash Dokja.

But after turning off the faucet to the tub and stepping back into the bedroom, a faint noise reached Joonghyun’s ears. It was loud enough to be heard over Dokja’s panting, but not loud enough to be deciphered. It didn't seem like it had just started, probably blocked out earlier by the sound of water filling the tub.

Joonghyun patted down his pockets. Nope, it wasn’t his phone. And he’d left Dokja’s phone downstairs on the counter. Searching around the room yielded no results, and it was already barren since he’d taken all the clothes down to wash.

Joonghyun ran a hand through his hair in frustration. The noise was starting to really annoy him now, like a fly buzzing around his head, and he was getting impatient to find what it was and silence it. Luckily for him, Dokja chose that exact moment to change his laying position, turning over on his stomach from his back.

And that was when Joonghyun saw it.
The hot pink dildo sticking out of Dokja’s plump ass, vibrating away.

Joonghyun swallowed hard as he slowly approached Dokja, barely able to breath as he took in the sight. The knob at the base was set at the maximum. The bottom was impossibly wide, simulating an alpha’s knot. The sliver of it that wasn’t inside Dokja was completely covered in slick or semen, probably both. Around it, Dokja’s hole was stretched to its limit, twitching and squeezing around it occasionally. The rim was puffy and deep red, clear evidence of Dokja’s enthusiastic activities from the past few days.

Dokja’ widened his legs slightly, unconsciously trying to make more room for the toy to slide in. His hole tightened around the dildo, making its position change a bit. He must’ve gotten what he wanted because a drawn-out whine came from his lips, Dokja wiggling his hips into the mattress as the flush on his face became even more defined. His forehead wrinkled with effort, trying to find pleasure even when sleeping.

Without noticing, one of Joonghyun’s hands came up to reach towards the toy. A soon as he realized what he was doing, he used his other hand to stop it, questioning what the hell he was doing.

Well, it’s not like he could leave it in there if he wanted to bathe Dokja, right? That was the excuse he told himself, at least.

Joonghyun rubbed his temple, trying to the the last few functioning braincells in his head to work again.

He was going to completely calmly and rationally pull the dildo out of Dokja, then he was going to give Dokja the most respectful bath of his life before putting him back to bed. After his heat subsided, Dokja would realize how cool of an alpha he was and fall head over heels for him. Then they'd mate, get married, have sex for a month straight and raise ten children together.
It was just as simple as that.

Joonghyun took a few breathes, only realizing how much of a bad idea it was after pheromones flooded his nose.

Shaking his head aggressively, he braced a hand on Dokja’ thigh, admiring how warm and plump it was as he lightly grasped it, the warm skin bulging around his fingers. Turning of the vibrations, Joonghyun wrapped a shaky hand around the base of the toy and tugged lightly, his body tense with concentration as he tried not to pull too hard. Predictably, it didn’t slip out. Dokja made a disgruntled noise as he shifted his legs slightly, tightening himself around the toy.

A tense breath hissing from his lips, Joonghyun attempted to pull it out a few more times, each with more strength behind it. Until finally, he had just the right amount of effort behind it to make the knot pop out of the hole with an obscene squelch. Pulling the toy away, Joonghyun watched in awe as the large globs of slick that the toy was keeping in Dokja spilled out, making a stream down the crevices of his ass. The hole, still stretched out and gaping from however long the toy had remained in it, squeezed around nothing, as if searching for something else to fill it up again.

Dokja whined at the sudden emptiness.

In his staring, Joonghyun didn’t realize how strongly he was gripping the toy as he stared at the lewd scene before him. Only when the dildo started giving away to his grip and a strange creaking noise came from it did he realize that he may have been breaking it. He tossed the toy away onto the bed, then lowered himself to the floor in a squat with his head in his hands.

He was taking care of an omega in heat, of course he’d see things like this. He'd been hearing it for the past four days. There was no reason for him to lose his cool.

“…Joon…hyu…?”

Joonghyun’s head snapped up in less than a second. He was greeted blown out and unfocused pupils trying to concentrate on him. Shaky arms supported his body as he lifted himself from the bed. Joonghyun rushed over to help Dokja sit up.

“…’m cold. Nest?” he mumbled, his arms crossed over his body. Joonghyun mentally chastised himself for spending too much time being sidetracked, and now Dokja had awoken without the comfort of his pseudo-nest. His inner alpha chastized him for making the omega uncomfortable, which was enough for Jooghyun to sort out his thoughts and focus on the task at hadn for the time being.

He kneeled down in front of Dokja.

“Dokja, I’m going to bathe you. Afterwards, we can make your nest again. Is that okay?”

It took a few seconds for Dokja to comprehend Joonghyun’s words, his heat-brain still out of it. But he eventually made an affirming noise. Nodding at the go-ahead, Joonghyun carefully picked up the omega and took him into the bathroom. Adjusting the omega's weight in his arms, he was relieved to find that Dokja had a good weight, and there was a healthy amount of meat on his bones. It looked like the meals had helped him to not completely wear out his body during the heat. When they arrived in front of the tub, Joonghyun shifted him to one arm and used the other to test the water temperature. It was still comfortable hot, steam lapping at the surface of the water.

After lowering Dokja into the tub, Joonghyun pulled a stool over to the side of the tub. That was it be more comfortable for him to sit on it as he went about cleaning. All the while, Dokja’s eyes hadn’t left him for a second. He sluggishly followed Joonghyun’s movements, a curious look on his face.

“...mate?”

Joonghyun hummed at that as he reached over to grab the shampoo and soap. This must’ve been confusing for his inner omega. By its logic, seeing Joonghyun take care of him meant that he must’ve been Dokja’s alpha. But because of the scent blockers he was wearing, Dokja wouldn’t have been able to smell any of his pheromones.

“Not yet, but hopefully one day. Cover your face for me?” Joonghyun gestured to the shampoo he was pouring out on his hand. When Dokja did so wordlessly, he went ahead and started massaging it into his scalp.

The rest of the bath proceeded in much the same way, Joonghyun asking Dokja to adjust his position and Dokja cooperating sluggishly, all the while relaxing more and more. By the time Joonghyun reached his leg, he was practically falling asleep again. It just made it easier for Joonghyun to clean his body, even if he did have to keep Dokja from dropping his head into the water. He was almost done washing away all the dried fluid from Dokja’s body when something unexpected happened.

Throughout the bath Dokja had been making little chirps and contented sighs, no doubt enjoying how the warm water and Joonghyuk’s touch soothed his sore muscles. But now, he was full on…purring? Joonghyun stopped his ministrations to watch him in bemusement.

A deep rumbling was coming from the center of his chest, and he seemed unaware that he was doing it at all, his eyes still closed in contentment.

An immensely warm feeling spread through Joonghyun’s chest at the sight. His inner alpha puffed out its chest. They helped their omega get through his heat. Their omega was satisfied and relaxed because of them.

The feeling stayed as he drained the water, wrapping Dokja in the fluffiest towel he could and setting him down on the edge of the counter. He found the hair dryer to be on the first drawer to the left and thoroughly dried Dokja’s soft locks before moving onto his body. Dokja had already spent enough time away from his nest, and from how his pheromones were starting to increase again Joonghyun needed to get him back soon.

Joonghyun swiftly moved the still-purring Dokja back to the bedroom onto his bed. The replacement bedding and scented clothes were spread over the mattress, Joonghyun trying his best to recall how he’d set it up at the beginning of Dokja’s heat. The heated blanket had to be cleaned, so for now he hoped that Dokja could do without it. Tucking in the last of the clothes, Joonghyun nodded to himself, finding the nest adequately organized, and headed for the door.

That is, until a weak grip suddenly found its way around his wrist.

As soon as he felt it, Joonghyun froze stiffly where he stood and looked back. Dokja, like before, was just barely conscious. It looked like just reaching out to him drained all the effort from Dokja's body. Nevertheless, he held on, bringing Joonghyuk’s wrists to his face to nuzzle into. Confused by what he was doing, Joonghyun realized a sliver of the scent blocker he’d stuck onto his wrist had peeled off, letting some of his natural pheromones leak out for Dokja to smell. The blockers were meant to be waterproof, but it was possible that some of the adhesive had washed off in the tub.

Nervous that his direct scent would push Dokja into a deeper heat, but reluctant to pull away from Dokja who obviously found comfort in it, Joonghyun was torn on what to do.

Dokja continued hanging onto his wrist, picking at the scent blocker until it fell of and then jumping straight into inhaling as much of the scent as he could, even rubbing his wrist all over his face and neck, as if trying to bathe himself in the pheromones. Joonghyun knelt down to make it easier for him to do.

Watching Dokja do this for a few moments, a lightbulb went off in his head.

He wouldn’t be able to stay like this, but he could at least do something to satiate Dokja’s omega for the time being. Not wanting to alarm Dokja by removing his arm from his grasp, Joonghyun slowly maneuvered his arm towards Dokja’s neck. Belatedly, Dokja noticed that it was drifting away from his face, but he let his hands slip away from it, curious as to what Joonghyun wanted to do.

Keeping on close eye on Dokja’s reaction, Joonghyun put his wrist on Dokja’s nape, then started rubbing against it, scenting Dokja. An initial jolt and squeak of alarm from the omega surprised him, and he almost withdrew his hand. But he stopped himself when he heard the purring coming back tenfold. Dokja’s eyes were closed in delight, and he turned over to his side to encourage it. Huffing with a mixture of equal parts bemusement and relief, Joonghyuk continued scenting him, even doing his wrists for good measure. By the time he was finished, Dokja was blissed out, limply sprawled out on the bed in a way that wasn’t too dissimilar to an octopus.

Placing a final kiss to his forehead, Joonghyuk pulled up the blanket to his neck and slipped out the room.

After he took care of Dokja, the day proceeded in much the same way as the previous days of his heat, albeit at a much more toned down pace on Dokja’s end. For the first time in past few days, Dokja was quiet for the whole night, so Joonghyun wasn’t sentenced to staying awake and stroking himself to his moans.

Instead, he spent the majority of it involuntarily recalling the knotted dildo had seen earlier that day, imagining all the things that Dokja had done to himself on it.

He was not jealous of it.

“…tch, lucky bastard,” he mentally cursed the toy before turning and trying to fall asleep once more.

Chapter Text

Chapter 21: Hatred 

"Mia-yah, your grandfather mentioned how you’re being as diligent as ever with your schoolwork. Good job." Woojin praised her as he crossed that garden patio. She was sitting at one of the outdoor tables, a collection of colorful knick-knacks and wrapped sweets scattered across it with a paper bag in hand. Her brow was furrowed in concentration as she carefully chose which colored candies to pack.

"Hello to you too, Ajeossi." Mia replied, her gaze flitting to him before returning to meticulously continue her task.

Woojin looked at the objects on the table with interest. Mia wasn't one to occupy herself with childish toys and candies like these, as least from what he knew. He sat on the chair opposite her, his eyes following her every move. "Who are those presents for?" he asked. "Don't tell me our Mia-yah already has a crush!” he joked with a chortle.

Mia looked at him with a disgusted look on her face. "Of course not, these are only for Yoosung and Gilyeong…we're classmates." she clarified with a huff, but Woojin didn’t miss the spot of pink coloring her cheeks.

Woojin raised an eyebrow in surprise. The little girl in front of him was similar to her brother, almost uncannily so. The way she upheld herself and her no-nonsense attitude spoke to a maturity beyond her years, one that some of his own employees lacked. But it also meant that there was a visceral disconnect between her and the rest of the children her age. He knew what it felt like to be in that position, and he didn’t doubt the rest of his siblings had experienced similar feelings.

The longing for companionship was only natural, after all.

Under that had exterior was an innocence and warmth that still hadn’t extinguished, despite being exposed to this wretched family of theirs. It was just like that woman, with the same black hair and brown eyes, who always seemed serious, but whose smile could light up a room.

But now that smile was gone, destroyed by them as he stood by and watched. He couldn’t even help her when she needed someone to hold on to. The fire in her that had burned so brightly was reduced to nothing but ashes, slipping through his fingers as he tried desperately to hold on to what could’ve been...

Mia was almost done packing, two bags filled to the brim with toys and candy.

Her brother had been missing for months now, and she was still holding out strong. Maybe she really was convinced that her brother was that invincible. If Joonghyuk was as close as he thought him to be, the least that bastard could do was rush home back to his defenseless sister.

With him out of the picture, there was no telling if his sister would become the next target, not to mention the ways the family would try to get to her head. A little girl could only hold out for so long when living amongst a family of piranhas.

Speaking of which, his gaze swept across the sprawling garden, catching onto two figures that were walking leisurely along the path. Their laughter was carried by the breeze.

His sister’s lover was the one to make eye contact with him first. She immediately grabbed Mingi's arm, a touch too possessive, and dragged her in their direction.

"Hello, you must be Yoo Woojin-ssi, your sister has told me so much about you! I'm Kang Ha-eun, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person." She greeted him amicably enough, but there was a hint of steel beneath it. She held her sister's hand, their fingers intertwined.

He looked at her up and down, his gaze cool and assessing. He knew this woman. He knew her reputation. He knew she was trouble. But that was no reason for him not to maintain his professionalism. "Yes, I could say the same," he responded, extending his hand toward her.

They shared a brief handshake before Ha-eun diverted her attention onto Mia, whose stoic mask had returned. She smiled at the young girl, a smile that was meant to be charming but felt forced and calculating. "Hello, there, you must be Yoo Mia."

Mia stood up, her gaze flitting from Ha-eun to Woojin, a flicker of apprehension in her eyes. "Yes, ajumeoni—"

"Oh, no need for the formalities, you can call me Unnie, if you want," Ha-eun interrupted, her voice dripping with sweetness.

Mia nodded. "Yes, Ha-eun Unnie..." She bowed slightly, her gesture polite but hesitant.

Woojin watched their interaction, his gaze flitting between them. He gave his sister a side-eye, seeing the displeasure etched on her face.

While they were busy trying to navigate around their veiled animosity, they didn't realize someone else had joined the group.

"Oh, so this is where all of you were. I’d almost thought the house was empty for once." The voice that spoke out was smooth, almost melodic, but there was an edge of amusement that sent shivers down Woojin's spine.

The group visibly stiffened in the face of the newcomer.

Whatever peace that had come to Woojin during his interaction with Yoo Mia had completely extinguished. "Hyung." He murmured coldly.

Yoo Jun-seo, his older brother. Two years younger than Yoo Min-ji, He was already his late forties and had inherited their father’s cold, piercing gaze. While his posture remained casual, any one of them would be fools to let their guard down in front of him.

In an instant this little family reunion of theirs had turned into a full-on power struggle.

"You’re supposed to be in Europe." Woojin remarked, not bothering to hide the accusation that lingered in his words.

Jun-seo smiled at him and shrugged. "There’s not much to do there when you’ve already seen everything there is to see, besides," his smile took on a more sinister edge. "I just wanted to see my dear family again. Do you think there’s something wrong with that?"

Woojin's could feel his eye twitch.

"Of course not Hyung, but the maids weren’t given a chance to prepare for your arrival, and we could’ve sent a driver to escort you from the airport."

Jun-seo looked him up and down lazily, as if he was unimpressed by Woojin’s poor excuse. Yet, his grin remained. "There’s no need to worry about little ol' me. I'm planning to stay here for the next year, so I should acclimate myself to the city and the roads sooner rather than later."

Woojin didn't say anything, but his reason for coming back so suddenly couldn’t have been any more obvious. Jun-seo was an ambitious man. With Joonghyuk’s whereabouts unknown and their father in his late seventies and on the verge of retirement, it looked like he was going to put all of his power into taking over the throne.

Jun-seo didn’t let the conversation linger on himself for too long, his eyes sliding over to Kang Ha-eun with interest. "Oh my, may I have the pleasure of getting the name of this beautiful lady?"

Somehow Woojin managed not to roll his eyes. Stifling a sigh, he glanced at Mia, wondering how she was holding up in this conversation. The young girl stood by his leg stiffly, probably having experienced too many of these tense interactions between them to be visibly phased anymore.

In response to his brother’s outright flirting, Ha-eun gave a flattered smile, though she couldn’t make it reach her eyes. "You flatter me too much,” she waved off his compliment, “I'm Kang Ha-eun, it’s an honor to meet you." Just as Woojin had done earlier, she extended her hand for a handshake.

But Jun-seo had a different idea. He brought her hand up to his lips, kissing the back of it in a gesture that lingered for a moment too long. His eyes didn’t leave hers for the entire exchange. "The name is Jun-seo, Lady Ha-eun."

Ha-eun blushed in a way that somehow felt deliberate. In contrast, next to her Min-ji wore her emotions on her sleeve, irritation and disapproval coming off her in waves.

The two adults continued their conversation, his big brother too much of a snake to end a conversation with his next potential catch, and Ha-eun too busy putting on her act to walk away from him. While they were entertaining each other, Woojin saddled up next to his sister.

He whispered to her quietly, "Has father already met her?"

Min-ji had her eyes fixed on the two people in front of them. It looked like they were lost in their own little world. "Yes, he immediately dismissed us though. But he invited Ha-eun to have dinner with us, so there’s that." she said with a hint of resignation.

"Why do you even bother, it’s the same thing every time, isn’t it? Either they’re not worthy of the family name, or they won’t be able to handle the business."

Min-ji sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I know, but he needs to know that I’m not a child anymore. I’ll do what I want, whether nor not he approves," she affirmed to herself, her eyes flashing with a spark of defiance.

Woojin shrugged, skeptical. " I really hope that you know what you're doing, Noona...you don't know what’ll come back to bite you in the end," he warned.

"…I’ll keep that in mind."

"Excuse me, dear guests," A maid, her voice soft and polite, called for their attention. "Lunch has been prepared and the chairman has requested your presence," she informed them.

Jun-seo nodded at the maid. "Of course, we wouldn’t want Father to wait on us any longer." He turned to go to the dining room, his gaze still fixed on Ha-eun and she and Mingi walked in front.

Woojin shifted his attention to Mia, forcing his demeanor to soften as he addressed her.
"Are you done packing all of the toys, Mia?"

Mia nodded, her body language still rigid. "Yes, Ajeossi," she replied briefly.

Nodding at her, Woojin gestured for the maid to come over. "Please bring her belongings to her room."

“Of course, sir.” She said, swiftly grabbing the paper bags from Mia and walking off.

Woojin offered his hand to Mia to hold, but she instead opted to grab the edge of his suit sleeve. Resigned to the fact that she’d never quite trust him as much as her older brother, Woojin walked beside Mia, the two of them making their way to the dining room.

With Dokja’s heat having passed after the fifth day, he no longer had the haze of euphoria to dampen the soreness that all his activities had inflicted on his body.
Joonghyun had woken up that morning to a loud thud coming from Dokja’s room. Worried that something had happened, he rushed to see what caused the noise, only to come across Dokja bemoaning to himself as he flailed on the floor, tangled in his blanket. Apparently, he wanted to wash himself off, but as soon he got up all his aching muscles responded with a resounding no.

A few painstaking minutes of negotiating and pleading from Joonghyun wasn’t enough for Dokja to let him carry him to his bathroom, the latter embarrassed to be caught in that position. He seemed ready to crawl if he needed to. Joonghyun unintentionally made it worse when he tried gently reminding Dokja that he’d taken care of him for the past few days during his heat. Dokja retreated himself back into the blanket, bundling up into a blanket ball so he could stew in his own humiliation.

Little fragments of the past few days appeared in his mind. He could vaguely recall Joonghyun’s silhouette occasionally entering and exiting his room. He supposed that’s where all the containers of food that magically appeared on his nightstand came from.

…wait, exactly how loud was he? Was Joonghyun able to hear all the sounds he was making?

It all came to a head when the memories of what happened two days ago returned. The bath, the scenting, the god forsaken purring, and...

Oh god. The vibrator.

One moment he fell asleep with it still inside him and the next, Joonghyun was carrying him to the bath. He had no recollection of taking it out, and later that day he found it laying innocently next to him on the corner of the bed.

“AAAAAAAAAUUGGHGHG”

Dokja lowered his face into his hands and let out a miserable groan, his whole body overheated with shame.

“Dokja, what’s wrong!?” Heavy steps came towards him. Joonghyun’s voice was muffled since Dokja was still wrapped up in his blanket, but he could feel the other man place a hand on it to make sure he was okay.

“Joonghyun, you bastard, you put your hands on my dildo, didn’t you!?”

“…”

Even in Joonghyun’s silence Dokja could feel his guilt. “You bastard! What the hell did you do to it!? After that day I couldn’t even turn it one without the power flaking out on me, you owe me a new one!!”

In Dokja’s tirade, he didn’t even realize that Joonhyun had picked him up, blanket and all.

"Don't you dare judge me for that either, an omega's gotta do what they gotta do! You're an alpha, I'm sure ruts aren't too different, right? Ugh, I should've just chugged down my heat suppressants, then none of this would've happened. You know what? Let's just both pretend that those few days didn't happen at all. No, let's erase all the memories from during that time from our minds... Oh wait, maybe I shouldn't say it like that... UWAH!

All of a sudden, the blanket was pushed away from his head as he was set down on a stool in his bathroom. The tub was filled with warm water.

Momentarily taken back by the sight, the topic at hand rushed back to Dokja, who turned to narrow his eyes at Joonghyun. The alpha was pointedly facing away from him, awkwardly rubbing at his neck.

“…I’ll leave you to your bath, then.” With that, Joonghyun stepped out of the bathroom, letting the door click closed.

Dokja put his hand to his temple.

He wasn’t upset at Joonghyun, he really wasn’t. He saw the lengths that Joonghyun took to take care of him for his entire heat. Despite how hard it must’ve been to resist his alpha instincts, Joonghyun never even touched Dokja unless he needed to, and even then, he never did so in excess.

He was appreciative for Joonghyun’s presence. Because of it, he had what was probably the most comfortable heat of his life. Before Joonghyun, all he did to prepare for it was bring a fifteen-set pack of instant ramen and a water heater to his room, along with taking the usual heat pills.

But still. It was just… so embarrassing!

Dokja slapped his cheeks. He needed to calm himself down, because at this rate he was going to overheat before even stepping into the bath. Taking a few deep breaths to cool down his head, Dokja untangled himself from the blanket still wrapped around him and slowly made his way into the tub.

He let the hot water envelop his body, his sore body relaxing as it lapped against his skin.

He’d deal with his hectic emotions and with the conundrum of how to face Joonghyun after the bath. But for now, he was going to enjoy this.

The bath was a much needed breather, with Joonghyun only interrupting once to bring him a fresh change of clothes.

When Dokja stepped out of the bathroom, he was surprised to find that his entire bedroom had been cleaned by Joonghyun yet again. The bed cloth had been replaced and he turned on the fan to let the leftover pheromones air out of the room.

“Eh, Joonghyun, I could’ve just cleaned all of it up myself, y’know. With my heat over I’m not completely useless anymore.”

Joonghyun straightened up from where he was adjusting the pillows on his bed. “It’s fine, I had time, and the laundry needed to be done anyways. Are you still sore?”

Dokja hummed, stretching his neck and back thoughtfully. “It’s nothing that I can’t handle,” but Joonghyun shook his head disapprovingly.

“That won’t pass. Come here, I’ll massage you.” He gestured to the bed, patting it. Surprised, Dokja shook his hands at him.

“Huh? That’s really alright, Joonghyun! You’ve pampered me enough,” Dokja tried reassuring him.

“Are you really going to go back to work when you can barely stand?”

“…Well…” Dokja began, but he couldn’t deny that Joonghyun made a compelling point. As much as he wanted to say he’d get through it just fine, it was honestly always a headache. Not just because of the soreness either. Whenever his manager or coworkers noticed the slight limp in his step after his absences, they never failed to give some sort of sleazy look or comment.

By now he was an expert at letting those kinds of remarks bounce right off him, but it would be nice to get through the day with one less pain to deal with. After seeing Dokja’s thoughtful expression, Joonghyun looked victorious, knowing that he had won.

"Does this feel fine, Dokja?" Joonghyun asked, using the rough pads of his thumb and palm to massage the muscles down Dokja’s back. He went in slow circular motions, paying special attention to any particularly hard knotted muscles that he came across.

“Haaaahh, yeah, right there” Dokja’s words were garbled with his whole body feeling like it was melting into the sheets. There was really nothing that Joonghyun was incapable of doing.

The massage proceeded in relative silence, Joonhyun occasionally chiming up to check up on him and telegraph to him what he was going to do. By the time Joonghyun was done with his back and halfway though doing his left leg, Dokja was on the verge of falling asleep.

“Dokja.”

“Hmm, yeah?”

“… are you okay with this?”

Dokja let out an amused huff, though it came out a bit stilted since his cheek was smushed into the mattress. “With what, getting a full body massage? Why would I refuse?” Dokja joked, but Joonghyun didn’t go along with it.

“Everything from the passed week: me being here during your heat, bathing you, seeing you naked, the toy… you weren’t in the right mind to say if you wanted me to take care of you like that.” Joonghyun’s hands stopped, and his pheromones were getting increasingly bitter.

As Dokja was struggling to pull any words from his frazzled mind to assure him, he continued.

“Whatever happened to you, and whoever hurt you to make you so scared that night you had your nightmare…Dokja, if I did anything that hurt you like that, then I’d—”

“No!”

Dokja scrambled up from his position to face Joonghyun, who couldn’t bring himself to look Dokja in the eyes. The alpha’s expression was more vulnerable and crestfallen than he’d ever seen him before.

“Joonghyun,” Dokja murmured, barely audible. He was heartbroken that Joonghyun would think of himself like that. He slowly went to cup Joonghyun’s face in his hands, but he still wouldn’t look back.

“What brought this up?" Dokja searched Joonghyun's face for an answer. But when he couldn't find one, something suddenly came to mind. "Was it…was it because I yelled at you earlier?”

Joonghyun still didn’t say anything, but a subtle twitch of his face gave him away.

“Oh Joonghyun…I-I’m sorry, I still can’t say much on what happened to me but trust me when I say that you’re nowhere near as bad as that. If you were, I would’ve already kicked you to the curb.” Dokja pulled Joonghyun in a tight hug. “I was just embarrassed earlier, that’s it. I didn’t mean to make you think that I don’t appreciate everything you did for me, ‘cause I do. I’m sorry for taking it out on you, I should’ve been clearer.”

It was Dokja’s turn to soothe Joonghyun, releasing calming pheromones in hopes of alleviating him.

Still Joonghyun didn’t respond, and Dokja started to fear that he had ruined everything. Joonghyun was one of the best things that happened to him, he'd given him a kind of companionship that he could never hope to get from anyone else. And how had Dokja thanked him? By berating him and making him feel like shit.

This is what happened when his guard was down and Joonghyun tried to get close with him.

All this time Dokja had been focused on the pain he would feel if Joonghyun tossed him away and left him, either because his memories came back or after finding out about Dokja’s past. But never had he considered how he could hurt Joonghyun with his own carelessness.

The first feeling of Joonghyun’s arms coming up to reciprocate the hug made Dokja jump in surprise. In a hug that was just a little too tight, Joonghyun rested his head on Dokja’s shoulder, some of the tension leaving his body.

“…thank you.” He whispered. Dokja could barely make out his words.

Then, just as quickly as this whole conversation had ensued, Joonghyun pulled away, the same stoic, nonchalant look on his face he always wore.

“I still haven’t finished massaging you. Afterwards we can go have lunch."

His whole demeanor was as if nothing had happened, or like he was trying to act as if nothing had happened. Dokja would’ve been jarred by it, if he didn’t also know how Joonghyun felt. Neither of them were really built for these kinds of ‘pouring your heart out’ conversations. Just looking at him Dokja could feel the emotional strain that the whole interaction had put on him.

Gently shaking his head, Dokja sat up on the bed.

“I already feel a lot better thanks to you. C’mon, you should be the one resting right now, you just got done spending five whole days taking care of me.” Just as Joonghyun opened his mouth to protest, Dokja held up a hand to stop him, patting his bed after words, “Just lay down here for a bit, at least half an hour or so. You probably weren’t able to sleep as much as you should’ve these past few days. I’ll even take care of lunch!"

Joonghyun had been poking around the bed as he considered Dokja’s suggestion but had paused at Dokja’s last words.

“You? Preparing a meal?” Dokja didn't need to be clairvoyant to know that Joonghyun’s mind flashed to the box of instant ramen collecting cobwebs in the pantry.

“I refuse to eat instant meals or fast food.”

“Hey, I wasn’t thinking of either of those! I was gonna treat you to a meal of one of my favorite restaurants…hey, don’t look at me like that! It’s a little mom and pop restaurant, everything’s fresh and handmade! They make the best dumplings there, nothing could beat them.”

Joonghyun still didn’t look convinced, but he relented at Dokja’s insistence.

“One chance. If it’s not up to my standards we’re never following your recommendation again.” Dokja rolled his eyes at that, walking towards the bedroom door.

“Yeah, whatever you say. You’ll find out just how wrong you are later. Now rest already!”

With that, Dokja stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him.

He just couldn’t get Joonghyun’s words out of his mind, nor that heart wrenching expression he wore. No, he wouldn’t let anything like that happen ever again.

Chapter Text

Chapter 22: The reunion

Mia knocked timidly on the door after standing anxiously in front of it for the past minute, her fidgeting hands the only sign of her nervousness. Just behind her, a tall, imposing man dressed in a suit held the giftbags that she’d packed. As a rule of thumb, Mia was to be always supervised by at least one bodyguard out of the small team of people that her overprotective brother handpicked for her. When it came to places like school, they could only observe from a distance. Over time she learned to just ignore their presence. But this would be her first time going to a friend’s house.

Normal kids don’t have bodyguards, do they? Mia hoped they didn’t question it too much.

A middle-aged woman answered the door, a warm smile on her face. "Oh, you must be Mia-yah? Yoosung and Gilyeong are so excited to see you!" She widened the door, welcoming Mia into her home with open arms.

But rather than entering, Mia’s body stiffened. She’d been so focused on meeting up with her friends that properly greeting Gilyeong’s parents had slipped from her mind. Making sure to stand up straight and set her shoulders, Mia bowed to the woman. "Y-Yes Ajumeoni. Thank you for allowing me to—"

"Mia!!"

Before she could finish fumbling through her greeting, Yoosung and Gilyeong both ran towards her, their arms outstretched. On her right, Yoosung wrapped her arms around Mia into a hug that made squeezed the air from her throat. On her right, Gilyeong was impatiently trying to tug the both of them into the house, wanting to show off his bug collection to one more person. The both of them were babbling their heads off about all the things they wanted to do during their playdate.

"Back up you two, you’ll squish Mia at this rate!" The woman urged them off humorously, her hands resting on her waist.

They both let go of her, embarrassed expressions on their faces as they gave their friend a little bit more space. Mia, already dazed and slightly overwhelmed by all the new things she was experiencing, shook her head at the woman. "It's ok, Ajumeoni, I’m really happy to see them too," she said, a small smile gracing her lips.

Th woman smiled and then patted Mia's head. "Alright, but no need to be so formal here," she said. She then squatted down, her gaze level with Mia's, "You can just call me, Ahjumma, if you’d like."

“…yes, Ahjumma, I’d like that.”

The corners of the mother’s eyes crinkled with happiness, and she gave an encouraging nod to the little girl.

But before she could say anything more, Gilyeong and Yoosung grabbed Mia's wrists, their temporary patience from earlier already dried up. "Mia, let's go play!!" They said, their energy contagious. Hand in hand the two of them pulled her inside. Three pairs of footsteps pounded against the floors of the house.

The mother watched on fondly when a deep voice spoke out to her, reminding her of the other presence at her entryway.

"Excuse me," the bodyguard said, "It’s to my understanding that the young missus brought these gifts to give to her two young friends here," he held out the paper bags for her to take.

Looking at the contents of the bags, her eyes widened. They were moderately sized, yet they were still bulging and filled to the brim with an assortment of toys and bags of candies piled through the top. Speechless about the sheer number of items in them, she hesitantly took the bags from his grasp and nodded at him thankfully, "Thank you, I’ll be sure to give this to them…Yoo-ssi? Would I be correct to assume that you’re Mia’s father?"

The bodyguard shook his head, his expression stoic. "No, I’m merely the guardian entrusted to protect her for today. I will remain here outside until her visit is done."

The woman blinked a couple of times, her gaze switching between the bodyguard, the paper bags, and behind her where Mia had run off to.

Of course, there was no way she hadn’t heard the rumors about Yoo Mia. Ever since Yoosung and her son had become involved with her, parents had begun giving her unsubtle warnings and recommendations to get her child away from her. Even the teachers had begun acting strangely to her. And from what she could tell, Yoosung and Gilyeong were taking the brunt of this strange attitude, though they seemed to regard the whole thing with annoyance rather than worry. The only proper response to all of this was to ignore all the ‘advice’ given. Just because Yoo Mia may have been the daughter of some big hot shot family didn’t mean she deserved to have her childhood experiences taken away.

Still, coming face to face with what may have been her bodyguard brought just a bit of reality to those rumors.

The mother then sighed with acceptance, gesturing to the little bench on the front porch that the guard could sit on before closing the door.

Approaching the living room, Yoosung and Gilyeong were already back at it arguing what to put on the TV. “Look at all these documentaries I’ve saved, Mia! I’ll let you pick which one you wanna watch.”

“They’re all about bugs, and you’ve made me watch them a million times over already! We should watch a movie instead.”

“Hey, I was asking Mia, not you. Mia’s smart, after watching one of these she’ll definitely like bugs!”

“Yeah right, bug boy.”

“Ahem,” as Gilyeong opened his mouth to make another retort, his mother cleared her throat loudly behind him, silencing the two children. “Since Mia-yah brought you to so many gifts, why don’t you two thank her and give her the remote so she can choose what she wants to watch,” she chastised them, setting the bags on the coffee table.

Mia blinked, surprised at the sight of the paper bags. "Ah, I forget all about them…"

Prior argument forgotten, Gilyeong and Yoosung looked in awe at the toys and candy they could see peeking out the tops of them. Glancing at Mia to see if it was really okay for them to open, she nodded enthusiastically at them. They immediately grabbed everything they could reach inside the paper bags, the tips of their fingers brushing against the soft fabrics within the depths. Their faces lit up with joy, as they discovered the treasures inside.

"This...! This is the kaiju plush that I saw online. How did you know!?" Gilyeong yelled, his voice filled with a childish glee as he waved it around to show off. It was an insect-themed monster he loved, but merchandise for it was few and far in between.

Yoosung was just as excited. "Oh just look at it, it’s sooo cute!!!" She shouted, holding up a plushie of what appeared to be a strange monster. It was round with white fur, and it had a singular horn sticking out of its forehead. Yoosung, not able to hold back her excitement, went to tackle Mia into a tight hug. "Thank you for this, Mia!!" She squealed, her eyes sparkling with happiness.

Mia blushed, her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue. The middle-aged woman looked at them with a hint of amusement.

"Mia, you don't need to bring gifts, you know," she said, her voice soft but firm. "They have a lot of toys to play with already, especially Gilyeong-ah." She thought about the mountain of stuffed animals currently residing in his room.

Gilyeong looked at his mother, his cheeks puffing out in annoyance. "Mom!" He huffed with childish exasperation.

"It's alright, Ahjumma.." Mia spoke up. "They're my friends, so I want to give them things"

The woman stared at her, her eyes softening. She could see the sincerity in Mia's eyes, She sighed then stood up, her smile returning. "Alright, alright, I will leave you all to play. And if you need me, I'll be right over the kitchen.”

With a peck to all three of the children’s foreheads, the woman left them to their own devices. “Okay, Mia, what did you want to do first?”

“…”

“Huh, Mia? Is something wrong”

The two children turned to see Mia sitting with a dazed look on her face, and hand to the spot on the forehead.

“Ahjumma…she gave me a kiss on my head…?”

While Mia regarded the moment with surprise and wonder, Gilyeong mistakenly interpreted her expression as disgruntlement. In response, he scratched the back of his head awkwardly and gave her an apologetic look.

“Yeah, she kind of does that with everyone.”
To his side, Yoosung laughed to herself. “I remember when she did it to Ahjussi, the look on his face was similar to Mia’s right now.”

“If that’s gross to you I can tell her to stop, if you want,” Gilyeong offered, but at his words Mia shook her head vigorously.

“No! I don’t mind...no one family in my has ever done that, so it was…nice.”

Yoosung and Gilyeong looked at each other, equally baffled by the revelation. “No one in your family,” Yoosung repeated cautiously, “Not even your parents?”

Mia subtly flinched but quickly looked off to the side and shrugged. Though, a look at her face could tell anyone how bothered she was by it.

“Sometimes oppa pats my head, but…” she trailed off. Before she knew it, Yoosung and Gilyeong were crowding her all over again, offering her words of comfort.

“If Mia-yah wants a hug or a kiss, just come to us anytime, okay?” Yoosung offered assertively, hugging her tightly around the neck yet again. On her other side, Gilyeong lingered awkwardly, unsure what to do except for giving her a few pats on the back.

“I probably won’t kiss you or anything, but just tell us when your sad and we’ll be there,” he mumbled.

Mia was completely speechless at what was going on.

‘Mia is old enough to handle herself, she doesn’t need to be coddled’

That’s what grandfather had said the day that oppa disappeared.

Mia had once been proud of the praise she got for being so mature for her age. They all said that it was because she was just like her oppa. That meant that she was strong just like him too. But over the years, she found out that she was wrong. It only meant that everyone had no qualms about putting all of their expectations onto her, saying everything they wanted about her thinking that she’d be able to bear the weight of it.

If she was just like oppa, then did he feel like this too? Was there no one he could turn to for help? If so, then there was no way she could put her trouble onto him, not after all the effort he was already going through to raise her. Her problems were probably petty to what he had to deal with.

Eventually, she learned to lick her own wounds. Not for the sake of everyone’s expectations, but for her brother.

But now here she was, being comforted by two children who hadn’t seen half of the things she had to. Mia could hear her grandfather chastising her in the back of her head, yelling about how weak she’d become, how oppa would be ashamed. This was the moment when she was supposed to step away from them and assure them that this was just how things were, that they were making a big deal out of nothing.
Her fists clenched at her sides.

In the end, she refused to push them away.

Yoosung and Gilyeong continued to console her in that awkward inexperienced way that children do things. And Mia allowed herself to be comforted.

Not because she was weak, not because she couldn’t handle herself.

But because she had finally found people she wanted to lean on.

After a few more moments, Yoo Mia eventually convinced the two worried children that she felt much better thanks to them, and that it was about time they finally began actually playing together. It took bit of convincing on her part, but finally Yoosung and Gilyeong turned their attention back onto the gifts that Mia had given them, a jumble of plush animals, action figures, and board games. Gilyeong also pulled out some of his own toys, adding to the growing pile.
After hours of playing, they were now in the kitchen, eating some cookies and cupcakes that Gilyeong's mother had made. The air was filled with the aroma of sugar and sweets, the sound of their laughter.

Gilyeong was munching away happily at his chocolate chip cookies. He had one in each hand, devouring them like his life depended on it. His cheeks were filled like squirrel’s and chocolate was smeared all over his face. "This is good, Mom!" He said or at least tried saying with his mouth full.

His mother smiled warmly at her son's praise. "Of course, I’m the one that made them after all," she proudly proclaimed, bringing a napkin to wipe his mouth with.

Mia stared at the woman, trying to parse out what she was. The adults that interacted with her always fell into the same categories. Adults that treated her nicely because of her oppa, or because they wanted something from her, adults that were scared of her, and adults that hated her. There were only a few exceptions, her oppa was the number one exception of course. They were far and few between… but maybe this woman was one too.

This ahjumma didn’t even know Mia or her oppa, but her smile was so warm, and she seemed so caring. Mia would never discount the work that her older brother had done to raise her all by himself. But oppa would always be oppa, even if he was the strongest. While this woman… she felt like what a mom should be like.

She never even knew what her mother was like. What her mother looked like, her personality, how she and her oppa even came to be born into a family like this, things that’s she had wondered about and never got an answer to. The only thing she knew was that her mother died after giving birth to her. That's what everyone said.

Doesn’t it make it her fault that mother died?

"Mia-yah, here, eat more," the Ahjumma called out to her, her hand gently pushing the plate towards Mia.

Mia, unknowing of how focused she was on her thoughts, came back to reality. Her gaze shifting from the happy scene to the plate before her. The cupcakes were topped with colorful frosting. There were little weird squiggles on them that Gilyeong’s mother had said were supposed to be smiley faces, but they came out funny looking. Similarly, the cookies came out as strangely shaped blobs. Supposedly a cookie cutter had been used to shape them, but what exactly they were originally supposed to be shaped like, Mia had no idea.

Nevertheless, she grabbed a cupcake, her small fingers peeling away the cupcake liner while trying not to touch the soft frosting. She took a big bite, the sweetness melting in her mouth. Every chew was to be savored, with the cupcake melting in in her mouth.

"Is it good?" the Ahjumma asked with genuine interest.

Mia nodded gratefully, her cheeks flushed. "Yes, it is Ahjumma," she replied, her voice barely a whisper, but her eyes, brighter now, spoke volumes.

"I'm glad that you liked it."

"Ahjussi definitely would like these," Yoosung said, her eyes crinkled as she savored the taste of her own cupcake. Then she opened her eyes, shining bright as if she had just thought of something brilliant. "We should visit Ahjussi and give him sweets!"

The woman clapped her hands, her smile widening. "That's a good idea, Yoosung~ah!" She swiftly went back into the kitchen, where half-filled pans of extra sweets remained untouched. "Wait, let me just pack some of these up for him," she said, scanning the cabinets for containers she could use for them.

Mia frowned, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Who's that Ahjussi you’re always talking about?"

After chugging down a glass of milk, Gilyeong shifted his attention to Mia, his eyes shining with excitement. "Hyung is the one who lives on the other side of the street! He always treats us with food when we ace at school!"

Yoosung nodded along with his words. "He sometimes drops us off at school when he has time. He liked reading books, so he’s really smart," she bragged.

But then Gilyeong's face shifted, his expression turning into one of annoyance. "Hyung can’t see us that often these days, because of some bastard he has to babysit," he muttered the last part under his breath as to not get in trouble with his mother.

Mia frowned, her brow furrowing in confusion. "What do you mean?" She asked

"There is someone who is living in Ahjushi's house... an alpha!"Yoosung provided helpfully.

“His mate?" Mia guessed.

Gilyeong scoffed, waving the idea away without a second thought. "That's impossible, Hyung only leaves his house to work and hang out with us, how would he get a mate? Besides, I'm sure Hyung would've told me if that happened!"

Yoosung raised a challenging eyebrow at him. "And why would Ahjussi tell you before me?"

A smug grin spread across his face. "Because I'm his favorite," Giyeong proclaimed proudly.

"Dream on, Ahjussi said that I'm his favorite!"

Gilyeong became annoyed, his voice rising in protest. "You!—That's impossible! I'm his favorite!"

(He said that they were both his favorites.)

"No, you aren't!"

"Yes, I am!"

"NO!"

"YES!!"

The two continued arguing, their voices rising to a crescendo. But their back-and-forth was abruptly cut short when Gilyeong's mother put a bag with the food containers on the table. "Alright, alright, that's enough you two," she said, all too used to their squabbling but still exasperated by them, "Bring this over to Dokja-ssi's house. You can head over to the playground afterwards."

Just like that, the two stopped, their need to one-up each other transformed into anticipation to visit Dokja. Mia couldn’t help but feel a small admiration for this Ahjussi of theirs. Just the thought of him was able to tame Yoosung and Gilyeong in an instant.

Gilyeong snatched the bag before Yoosung could get it, his eyes shining with a mischievous glint. "Alright, let's go so Mia can meet Hyung," he said, hopping from his chair.

With a reminder from his mother to look both ways before crossing the street, the three children put on their shoes and made their way out the door. Mia shot a subtle nod to the bodyguard, who then got up to begin trailing behind the three children, his eyes scanning the surroundings. The neighborhood streets were empty that day, except for the occasional car driving by. The only sound that echoed off the homes was the sound of their footsteps against the pavement and their chattering.

Eventually, the small group reached another moderately sized family home, not too different in style and shape to Gilyeong’s house. Yoosung and Gilyeong raced to the front door, wanting to be the one to ring the doorbell first. It was Yoosung that won, and when Mia and the bodyguard joined them on the porch, they were still subtly elbowing at each other.

After a minute, they heard footsteps coming closer to the door, and it creaked open.

Gilyeong's face, which was full of anticipation, morphed into an annoyed scowl. "Ah, it's you sooty bastard, where's Hyung?"

Joonghyun looked over Yoosung and Gilyeong lazily, not at all affected by their anger at him for monopolizing Dokja. But then his eyes widened at something just past them, an inexplicable emotion swirling in his eyes.

Yoosung and Gilyeong frowned in confusion, their attention shifting to what he was looking at. And what they saw was Yoo Mia, who had gone fully rigid and was staring back at the man in equal parts shock and disbelief.

"Oppa...?"

Chapter Text

Chapter 23: A Foggy Memory

"Oppa...?" Mia whispered in awe, her gaze fixed on the man who was staring at her with a troubled look on his face.

"Huh?" Gilyeong tilted his head in confusion, his eyes flitting between Mia and Joonghyun. "What are you saying, Mia?”

At Gilyeong’s question, Mia gained a newfound certainty in her words, now not a single ounce of doubt remained in her. "T--that's.... THAT'S MY OPPA!" She pointed with conviction at Joonghyun, no hesitation to be found in her actions.

"Eh?” “Huh?!" Yoosung and Gilyeong both exclaimed in bewilderment, their mouths agape. They shifted their attention to Joonghyun, their gaze lingering on him as they studied him. Now that Mia had pointed it out, there was an undeniable resemblance between the two. Their wavy black bangs, sharp eyes, and thick eyebrows. The no-nonsense attitudes and intimidating faces the both of them wore. All of it lined up uncannily well.

With how much she praised him, always making sure to squeeze the topic of him into their conversations, it was not wonder that she took after him. But to think it was the man who lived right across the street with their Hyung!

The two children felt their world tilting on its axis, their understanding of the situation shifting dramatically.
They looked at Mia.

Then they looked at Joonghyun.

Then at each other.

"Oppa, why didn’t you come home?" Mia asked quietly, nervous at how her brother’s expression hadn’t changed at all.

Joonghyun stared at her, his eyes narrowed as he tried to understand the situation. After a few seconds, he shook his head, his expression turning into one of polite dismissal. "I think you've mistaken me with someone else," he said with finality, his tone laced with a subtle detachment.

Mia's heart sank at his words. She clenched her fists, tears welling up in her eyes and threatening to spill down her cheeks. How dare her brother act like he didn't know her, his own sister?!

"What do you mean by that?! I'm your younger sister!!" She grabbed his pants as tightly as she could, her fingers digging into the fabric, eyes looking up at him with a desperate need for him to acknowledge her. "What are you saying, Oppa?! After all these months do you not want to deal with me anymore? I want to go home, let’s go!" Mia tugged at him, trying with all her might to drag him along with her.

Yoosung and Gilyeong looked at her, their faces filled with worry. They both put their hands on Mia's shoulders.

"Mia, let go of his pants, maybe you're just confused..." Yoosung put a hand over Mia’s, calmly trying to encourage her to stop clinging to Joonghyuk. But Mia was having none of it, the pity in Yoosung’s voice only making her even more angry. "No! This is my oppa!" She declared unwaveringly. But soon enough, light steps padded from behind her brother.

"Joonghyun-ah, what's happening?"

The commotion stopped, the air falling silent as everyone looked at the unexpected arrival.

Dokja looked at the young girl, who was clinging to Joonghyun's pants, who stared back at him with wide eyes. Her face was filled with a shock that he soon mirrored on his own. The little girl looked like a tiny clone of Joonghyun, the hair, the face, even the eyes.

This…this must’ve been his daughter. Dokja's heart ached, a sharp, sudden pang of pain, as he imagined it. It looked like his suspicions were right. Joonghyun already had a partner and a daughter who he’d forgotten all about. It seems like the little girl is here to make her father go home. Today was the day their connection came to an end.

Meanwhile, Mia’s mind was filling up with its own set of assumptions. The ahjussi was plain looking, but with soft features that looked so much different than her brothers. But the thing that caught her attention the most was his scent. It was a mix of books and lavender. Aside from the scent collar around his neck, his face and scent made it clear that the man was an omega. But underneath it all was something else, something familiar. Mia looked at his clothes, a button-up shirt that’s too big for him, and then back at her brother, who had his eyes glued to the omega as soon as he made his presence known. Mia’s eyes widened, a realization dawning on her. "Oppa! You left me to go marry this omega?!" She accused him, her voice filled with pain.

Startled, Joonghyun opened his mouth to speak, but Mia immediately cut him off. "You did, didn't you?! That's why you're saying that you don't know me!!" Her tears fell down her cheeks as she continued, "How dare you, Oppa!! You left me alone in that house, what was I supposed to do without you!!" What was she supposed to do in a place where everyone expected everything and nothing from her. Her only existence was as Oppa's younger sister, but when he disappeared, who was she supposed to be?

Joonghyun stared at the girl clinging to him, his mind reeling. This girl who claimed to be his sister, buried her face into his stomach, her tears staining his shirt. "Joonghyuk, your sister is crying, do something!", a voice screamed in his thoughts.

A sharp, piercing pain followed right after, ripping through his skull. He brought up a hand to his head, trying to dampen out the swelling pain behind his eyes. As his balance became unstable, Joonghyun stepped back and grabbed ahold of the door frame, not wanting to topple over the little girl.

"Oppa, What happened?!!" the little girl cried out for him, but his vision blurred. Everything began to spin around him, he no longer knew if he was even standing anymore. Something like a broken record began playing in his mind, forcing him to watch a scene that he would’ve rather left to oblivion.

[Everything that happened before this, it didn’t matter. What mattered was the gun he held in his grip, still smoking as the bullet shell rolled into his leather shoes. There was an anticlimactic thump as the pale woman in front of him collapsed to the ground like a ragdoll. There was no disbelieving call of his name, no desperate hands clutching at her wounds to stop the pain and the bleeding. Just dull brown eyes identical to his own staring at him in quiet acceptance.

Red seeped into her white dress and pale skin, the color blooming and spreading like flowers in the spring. Wavy dark hair fanned around the woman’s fallen silhouette.

The woman’s death was not marked by the bang of his gun, but the silent hatred in her eyes simmering into his skin

A proud hand landed on his shoulder, it’s touch oh so gentle compared to the scene before him.
"Good job, Yoo Joonghyuk."]

More and more scenes just like it forced their way back into his mind, breaking open his skull and embedding themselves into their rightful places from where they’d been lost from him. Along with the memories came the pain and the guilt all over again. Jooonghyuk felt his chest constricting as panic made his breath turn ragged. His head… there must be a way to get rid of this unbearable pain. To smash it against the wall or bash it in with his own fists, anything would do to make the pain stop.

Another voice, this time from in front of him rather than inside his head, rang through his ears.

"Joonghyun-ah, breathe!!" He could barely pry his eyes open to see Dokja's blurry visage looming over him, but the pain was too much. The darkness staining the edge of his sight spread to the rest of his vision, and the world went to black.

“JOONGHYUN! Oi, you, I don’t know who the hell you are but stop standing there and help me bring him in.” Dokja glared at the suited man standing just behind Mia, who was as wide-eyed and surprised at what just happened as everyone else was. The man, jarred by Dokja’s yelling, looked towards Mia, who vigorously nodded her head to give him permission to comply.

Regaining his senses, the man straightened up and went to Dokja’s side, where Joonghyun had collapsed before fainting. With the both of them supporting Joonghyun’s arms over their shoulders, they were able to bring him in and lay him down on his bed. By the time they got there, Joonghyun’s condition hadn’t improved. His face was pale, and his breathing was shallow.

Afterward, Dokja had requested Yoosung, Gilyeong, and the man accompanying Mia to wait outside so that he could discuss what was going on with Mia in private. The man (who he now knew was Mia’s bodyguard after exchanging a few words) insisted on staying, but after a few reprimanding words from Mia to ‘shut up and get out’, he reluctantly stepped out and closed the door behind him, leaving Dokja and Mia alone with an unconscious Joonghyun.

Mia rushed to Joonghyun’s side, fiercely gripping his hand in her own. "What happened to Oppa?"

Dokja, who was adjusting the blankets around Joonghyun, murmured to himself somberly. "This is exactly what happened before. Maybe because you triggered his memories again…?" He fixed his gaze on Joonghyun, his forehead scrunched up in worry.

"What?" Mia turned to look at Dokja, her expression serious. "What do you mean by that?"

Dokja shifted his attention to Mia, his face softening once he saw the flicker of fear in her eyes, "Your name is Mia, right? You said Joonghyun is your brother...?"

Mia didn't say anything, looking at him wearily.

Dokja sighed. Her hesitation was understandable, but he’d need her cooperation if any of them were to figure out how exactly Joonghyun got in this position. "Mia, your brother hasn’t been able to come home for a while, right? We all want Joonghyun to get better so he can find his way home. So can you tell me what happened the day he went missing?” He asked, his words carefully chosen to slowly broach the topic to her.

While Mia didn't let go of her caution of him, she sighed, her shoulders slumping. The anxiety of the day her oppa still affected her, when her brother was there one moment and then wiped of the face of her world the next.

"…he told me that he was going to a meeting, and that he’d be home to cook dinner for us. Only Hyunsung came back the next day, and he told us some people attacked them," Mia’s face scrunched up in loathing, an ugly look on what should’ve been an innocent child. "Over two months passed with no one knowing where he was or what happened, but it looks like he left everything behind to be with some omega..."

She pulled her hand away from her brother in defeat. Was she not doing enough for him to stay, did all his responsibilities become too much for him? Surely he had to have thought of her before he left her behind. Or was she just another burden that he had to leave…

"Attacked...?" Dokja muttered to himself, before addressing the rest of Mia's words," No, Mia, you have it all wrong, he didn’t want to leave anything behind! Did no one try to find him when he was missing?" Dokja tried clarifying things, his hand resting gently on Joonghyun’s hair.

"We did, the group’s men were in every corner of Seoul looking, but it’s not like we could find someone who didn’t want to be found in the first place," Mia said bitterly.

The room became quiet, broken only by the sound of Joonghyun’s soft, rhythmic breathing.

“Mia” Dokja called out to her gently after a moment of observing her, "You're angry at your oppa for not recognizing you, right?" He could see it in her eyes, the hurt, the betrayal.

He understood.

He had been unfortunate to know what it felt like to be abandoned. But rather than a kindred spirit, what Dokja saw in Mia was a young child whose mind was clouded by confusion and insecurity. The way her lips twisted at his words, she looked like she was seconds away from either breaking down into tears or yelling at him.

"Mia, I promise he didn't mean those words, there’s more to this than you know—"

"Didn't mean?! He told me I was wrong! How can you say he ‘didn't mean’ it?!"

Slowly standing up, Dokja approached Mia on the other side of the bed. He knelt in front of her, but she refused to meet his eyes. "Mia…he couldn’t recognize you because he can’t recall any of his memories,” he told her firmly. Mia's eyes widened in disbelief, looking between her brother and Dokja.

The young girl could only gape at him, not knowing how to respond to him.

Dokja stared at her, patiently letting her get her bearings back. He knew that this was a lot to take in. But she needed to know that her brother didn’t let this happen voluntarily, and that she hadn’t been left behind on purpose.

"I found your brother hurt, to the point that he’d lost a lot of his blood. I took him to the hospital, and even though he’s been able to heal, an injury to his head made him lose his memories for now. He didn't know anything, not even his own name."

He watched her, a diverse range of emotions flickered across Mia’s face, from horror to relief to anxiety. Finally, her expression settled on anguish.

"N-No..." Mia murmured, her voice barely a whisper. She processed everything he said, the image of her brother, injured and bleeding, and then the crushing reality that he had lost his memories. He forgot everything, his life, his family…her.

"Will he get them back?" She looked up at Dokja, searching for an answer.

Dokja hesitated to give her an answer, wanting to make her feel better but not wanting to serve her any false hope. He settled for a more clinical response. "We can’t be sure what will become of his memories. Whether or not they come back depends on how he recovers, for now all we can do is hope," he said, his voice filled with a quiet regret.

Hope? Mia looked at her brother. Everything that the Yoo family obtained, all the hardships that they surpassed and the triumphs they won, had been gotten through their blood sweat and tears. Rigorous work and unyielding perseverance, those were the tenants that Mia had been raised on, and those were what allowed her oppa to survive their family. But now, there was nothing that either of them could do. Her oppa, whose broad back she had always looked upon in awe as he shielded her from the world. Herself, and her tiny hands that weren’t even half as big as oppa’s.

How were they supposed to count on something as elusive and unreliable as hope?

If her brother woke up, staring at her with empty eyes, never acknowledging her as his sister ever again, what would this hope do for them?

"Mia." A hand rested on her shoulder, making her look up. She saw Dokja, his gaze fixed on her with a quiet but firm determination. "I know that it’s frustrating, and that it all seems futile right now, but we can’t let ourselves give up," he told her, taking in the doubt clouding her eyes, "Even if he said he didn’t recognize you, the reaction he had to your presence must mean that his memories of you are still in his mind somewhere, even if they’re taking a while to come back completely. Now that you’ve found him, maybe you can help some of his memories resurface.”

…This ahjussi was weird, Mia thought to herself, her suspicion of him growing. She shouldn't trust him, he was the one who stole her Oppa from her, and when he found oppa, he didn't say anything. But, for just this short little while until oppa’s memories came back, Mia would put her trust in his hands.

Mia pouted, crossing her arms against her chest. "It's Yoo Joonghyuk."

Dokja blinked at her, puzzled. "…eh?"

"Oppa's name isn't Joonghyun, it's Yoo Joonghyuk!" Mia corrected him again matter-of-factly.

Joonghy—Joonghyuk? The name Dokja gave him was practically on the mark! Han Sooyoung would probably get a good laugh out of that, considering he’d gotten the name from.

"Oh, thanks for telling me, ”He said awkwardly, his voice trailing off.

Mia scoffed at him in exasperation.

Thankfully, his words of encouragement seemed to work, with the girl in slightly higher spirits than just moments ago. It was a good thing that the two of the were able to get past that difficult conversation relatively smoothly, but at the same time, Dokja had no idea what else to tell her. Joonghyuk was the thread that connected them, but neither of them knew about the ‘Joonghyuk’ that the other had experienced and lived with.

But then they heard a groan from the bed, both of them shifting their attention to Joonghyuk. He was slowly stirring back awake, his eyelids fluttering open.
"Joonghyun—Joonghyuk-ah?"

"Oppa?"

After a few seconds, Joonghyuk opened his eyes, his gaze meeting theirs. A hand instinctively went to his head, a lingering ache still present but as intense as before. Relief gradually began to replace it as his mind cleared up relief. "Joonghyuk, do you need something? How about water?" Dokja asked him full of anxiety, fidgeting with his fingers like Joonghyuk would faint again if he didn’t do anything.

Huh, Joonghyuk? Why was Dokja calling him that all of a sudden? Maybe it was just a slip of his tongue, but it made something it the back of his head itch. Sitting up with a wince, he faced the little girl from earlier that was claiming to be his sister. She perked up when he looked at her, but upon seeing the lack of recognition in his eyes, she slumped over once more.

The black hair framing her face and her eyes were almost identical to his own. If what she claimed was really true...

"Dokja... can you leave the room for a second?"

Mia flinched, her heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. Joonghyuk didn’t take his eyes off of her, a flicker of something passing through his gaze.

"I want to talk to her alone."

Chapter Text

Chapter 24: Tears of Reunion

Dokja closed the door behind him with a subtle click, leaving the two siblings alone together. As much as he wanted to know what they were going to say and about Joonghyun… Joonghyuk’s past, he wasn’t in a position to ask or know. In that room, he would’ve been nothing more than an intrusive outsider.

"Hyung...?" Gilyeong's tentative voice called him from down the hall. There, peeking out from behind the railing at the top of the stairway, Gilyeong lingered.

"What happened, why is Mia’s hyung staying here?" He asked, his eyes swirled with uncertainty about the whole situation that had just occurred. Craning his neck over, Dokja could just make out Yoosung clinging onto Gilyeoung’s back. Now doubt a similar question was running through her mind.

Slightly startled by their presence, Dokja smiled guiltily at them, feeling bad that he completely forgot about them in light of his conversation with Mia. They must’ve been as frazzled and stressed out as he was with everything happening around them, probably even more so since they didn’t have any of the information to put together what was going on. Walking over to them, he squatted down to their level, his hands resting gently on their heads.

"Don't worry, they’re having an important conversation right now. I’ll explain everything you two need to know, so why don’t we head back downstairs?" He spoke quietly, giving one last glance behind him to Joonghyuk’s bedroom door as he ushered the children back to the living room.

Yoosung looked down, her hands fidgeting. "Ahjussi, is Joonghyun~ssi really Mia's hyung?"

Dokja tensed at her question. "Yes, with how similar they look and how adamant Yoo Mia was, there can’t be any doubt about it."

Gilyeong and Yoosung frowned, their expressions mirroring each other, a shared disbelief filling their eyes.

"So why did that guy pretend not to know Mia? She cried because of him, and after all the times she ranted about how amazing he is!" Gilyeong spat heatedly, his fists balled. Mia as he saw her today was a far cry from how she usually was, now heartbroken and clinging to her brother who wouldn’t even acknowledge her back. It felt like a massive betrayal.

But Dokja was adamantly shaking his head.

"The situation is much more complicated than that. Joonghyuk~ah just isn’t in the right mind right now, he didn’t mean to hurt her."

"What do you mean by that, Hyung?"

Dokja paused for a moment, trying to find the right words. Their curiosity and suspicions had been building up for a good while now, and they needed to be cleared methodically.

"You…were both curious why Joonghyuk~ah is living with me when we're not mated, right?" He tried broaching the topic gently.

The two children glanced at each other, a silent conversation passing between them. As much as they didn’t want to pry into their Dokja’s business, he wasn’t wrong. One, the omega usually never liked anyone in his personal space, especially his house (unless it was them, they smugly thought to themselves). Two, he always avoided alphas like the plague, sitting far away from them at restaurants and making sure to shield the two children from any alphas that got just a bit too close to them. So having one live with Dokja so suddenly, and the omega being so casual about was startling, to say the least. They looked back at Dokja, nodding in confirmation.

Taking a deep breath, Dokja’s shoulders slumped, his heart heavy as he forced himself to recall the circumstances in which he first met Joonghyuk. “Joonghyuk~ah… I wasn’t being honest when I told you two that he was just a friend staying over. In truth, I’ve only known him for little more than the few months he’s been here. The reason he’s staying with me is because I found him hurt and bleeding in front of the house one night.”

The two children widened their eyes, their expressions shifting from curiosity to shock. How hadn’t they known this happened when they lived right across the street? Had no one thought of telling them anything?!

(Of course, their parents wouldn’t tell them. The second they saw the trail of blood outside of Dokja’s house the following morning, immediately contacted him, asking what the hell happened. Dokja told them the truth. They all agreed not to tell the children, not wanting to scare them.)

“I took him to the hospital, and over the next few weeks, it was found that he suffered from a head injury that made him forget his memories. He didn’t know his own name, or what even happened to him…” Flashes of that night went through his mind. Joonghyuk’s body bloody and mangled, a tree branch pierced through his chest. His unconscious body laying deathly still in the sterile hospital, hooked to an IV bag and an oxygen machine. At the time, the two things that Dokja had felt were the panic of the whole situation and the pity of seeing another stranger caught in a terrible accident.

But knowing Joonghyuk now and all the time that they’ve spent together, how would he react if something like that happened again? Would he even be able to hold it together, seeing Joonghyuk in such a state?

“At the time not even the police were able to find his identity. Since he didn’t have anywhere else to go, we decided the best thing to do was let him stay here to while he recovered.”

"And now that Mia has been able to come back to him, he’s even closer to regaining his memories. He’ll be able to go back to his family after they’re done talking here," he finished, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. Just thinking of Joonghyuk leaving him and not looking back, like their time together meant nothing, was like a stab to his heart. But in the end, Joonghyuk was free to do whatever he pleased. If it came down to that in the end, then so be it.

He needed to prepare himself to let go.

They’d been alone here for a good minute now and Joonghyuk still hadn’t said anything, still staring at her in silence. It was like he was sizing her up. Mia shuffled her body awkwardly, her gaze fixed on the ground. She didn't know how to look at her Oppa, how to act around him. For him, she was just a stranger. To have to remind him of their shared history…it was terrifying. What would she do if he didn’t think she was good enough to be his sister?

"…you said your name is Mia, and that…you're my sister?"

His voice was soft, his tone tentative, more so than she’d ever heard from him. It made Mia snap her gaze up to meet his. She could see the strain in his eyes as he looked at her, how hard he was trying to grasp anything that would help reconnect him to the little girl standing right in front of him.

Mia’s heart filled with equal parts hope and pain for them both.

"Y-yes, that’s me."

Joonghyuk’s mind was a whirlwind of emotions. He doesn't know what to say next. Just by staring at her, he could see the undeniable resemblance. But the regret of how carelessly he’d reacted to her crying and begging earlier left a bitter note in the air, making them both unsure how to proceed with this. Even now her head was bowed, her body trembling. She looked like she wanted to say something but couldn’t bring herself to.

"Mia..." He called out, testing how the name sounded in his voice.

She snapped to attention, expression filled with anticipation.

“I’m assuming Dokja already told you what happened to me, and why I didn’t recognize you.” Mia meekly nodded at him.

"Then I want to know…what kind of brother was I to you?" Every word was spoken with more hesitancy than the one before. His time here with Dokja was literally all that he knew. Now it was time for him to bear the weight of another life he couldn’t even recall yet. If he was a terrible, irredeemable bastard, then he’d bear the consequences for it. If he was the most highly achieved and affluent alpha that had ever existed, then he’d relearn how to match everyone’s expectations from him.

His real life began—or rather, resumed—from this moment.

Mia blinked a few times, maybe surprised about the question, but she quickly collected herself and looked to the side to put her thoughts together. Slowly, a bitter smile formed on her face. It was a look that had far too much bitter nostalgia for a girl her age.

"Your name is Joonghyuk, and you were… always busy with work, leaving early in the morning and coming back in the middle of the night. Always at the office or driving around the city meeting up with scary people. Most times I saw you, it’d just be the back of your head as you left for work. When I asked about it, you would never tell me anything, never let me help when I wanted to. All you would say was that there was no need to worry and that everything would be okay before you left again. I couldn’t stand it!” Mia’s slow recollection turned into an angered rant, her voice growing shakier with heaviness as she talked. She was clearly frustrated and distraught, these feelings building up for a long time. Joonghyuk’s grimace grew deeper as Mia went on. A regretful apology sat on the tip of his tongue, but Mia steamrolled ahead before he could get it out.

“But how could I complain about anything?! I couldn’t be upset, not when you woke up early to cook my lunch every morning before leaving, not when you would kiss my forehead ‘good morning’ and ‘good night’ whenever I couldn’t wake up to see you. Even if it was through paper notes or through the guards, you made sure to remind me to eat and do my homework. On the rare days you didn’t have to go to work, you’d always spend your time with me, spoiling me and letting choose whatever I wanted you to cook for the day. The whole table would be covered with my favorite foods for dinner. It would be too much for us to eat, so we’d let all the guards have a plate, and the house would get really loud and noisy, but it was fun…”

Mia turned to her brother, tears threatening to spill from her glistening eyes.

“You’re the kind of brother that everyone would want!”

Joonghyuk froze under her stare.

His body had undergone a positively tumultuous stream of emotions when Mia was talking. Disgust at himself for neglecting her, to sympathy towards Mia for her loneliness, and finally panic at the mounting tears threatening to run down Mia’s face. He didn't know what to say, struggling to make sense of it all. Joonghyuk stared at her and pursed his lips. No, maybe words weren’t the way to remedy this. Mia had said she was tired of his vague words of assurance. It was time to finally act.

Hesitant at first but making up his mind after another glance at Mia, Joonghyuk tentatively spread his arms open towards her in a shaky offering.

Mia’s eyes widened, staring at her brother, who was staring at her, his eyes full of emotion. She saw the pain in his eyes, the uncertainty in his movement, and…the sincerity that radiated off of his whole body. She clenched her fist, her heart pounding. She couldn't hold it in any longer. With her face finally breaking, she let out a sob and ran towards him, tackling her brother on the bed. Her arms could barely spread far enough to wrap around his frame, her entire body trying to curl into him. Relief and catharsis flooded through Mia in a way that she didn’t know she needed.

If she hugged tightly enough, these feelings wouldn’t leave. If she hugged tightly enough, her brother would disappear again.

So that’s exactly what she did.

And for a moment, everything is right.
It only got more so as arms slowly wrapped around her to reciprocate. His embrace was hesitant, but it was real.

"Oppa..." Mia sobbed into his chest, her tears soaking through his shirt.

A dull pain spread through the back of Joonghyuk’s head, a series of images and sensations flashing through his head.

Something small and impossibly warm was in his arms, bundled in a ball of blankets. A piercing wail rang against his eardrums. He was scared, and didn’t know what to do. Is this how you were supposed to hold babies? How did you make them stop crying? The deathly fear of dropping her made Joonghyuk tighten his hold. If this continued for any longer, grandfather would chastise him again. Blearily reaching through the dark room, he felt his hand land on the nearby lamp and fumbled to turn on the switch. A soft, orange light bathed the room, draping warmly over the two siblings. The wailing child in Joonghyuk’s arms finally opened her eyes to look at her older brother.

And just like that, she stopped crying. Instead, giggles bubbled forth from her lips.

Chubby hands made their way through the layers of blanket and reached up eagerly toward Joonghyuk, who looked on in wide-eyed amazement.

He’s seen the way everyone else has avoided his gaze. How would seeing his face spark such a reaction from this baby? Shifting the bundle in his arms, Joonghyuk reached out his hand, watching Mia’s tiny hand that could only grasp a couple of his fingers.

Love stronger than he’d ever experienced filled his chest.

Joonghyuk couldn't remember anything except for the few fragments that made themselves randomly known to him. There was now recalling how he hugged Mia before, how he cared for her. He hated it. That he couldn't be the brother she needed him to be.

So as the vision faded and the pain receded, Joonghyuk willed them both to come back, to be able to grasp the memories he so desperately needed back right now.

“Joonghyuk-ah, look at her. This is your sister, her name is Mia…”

"Oppa....oppa…don't leave me again," Mia pled into his chest, clinging onto him. The sound snapped Joonghyuk out of his revere. Joonghyuk’s embrace tightened around her, a hand rubbing up and down her back.

"I won’t be annoying, I’ll do whatever you want me too. I was strong, I didn’t cry the entire time you were gone, you can ask anyone...so please, please don't leave me again!"

Joonghyuk took in her words and knew that he couldn’t ever do so again. Not now, not ever.
"No, Mia, I would never choose to leave you. Your brother is here." He swore with deep conviction. He didn’t remember her, not all of her, but he knew that he loved her more than himself.

Mia sniffed, searching his face with uncertainty. "Promise?" She asked, her voice barely audible.

Joonghyuk nodded as he extended his hand, his pinky finger outstretched, "I’ll always fight to get back home to you."

Mia looked at his finger, then looked at him. Wiping her tears, her pinky finger meeting his.

"You promised, Oppa…I won’t ever forgive if you do this again."

He let out a breathy chuckle, "Yes, don’t worry, your Oppa will always be by your side."

"Even if I'm annoying?"

"You're not annoying to me, Mia."

"Even if I'm a crybaby?"

"Cry as much as you need, I’ll take all your tears away."

There was no telling what was going to happen from this moment on, or what kinds of things were waiting for in the life that he was supposed to return to. But Joonghyuk tried his hardest to engrave this moment into himself. The warmth of their intertwined pinkies would never allow Joonghyuk to lose sight of himself again.

Chapter Text

Chapter 25: Happily Despair

The high-pitched cheers and squeals of children pricked at Joonghyuk’s eardrums. Mia, Gilyeong, and Yoosung were gleefully playing on the slides with some if the other neighborhood kids who happened to be there, the children running around and chasing each other like hyperactive squirrels.

Initially, Mia had insisted on keeping her brother by her side at all times, not wanting to let go of his hand. Joonghyuk had been understanding about this, playing wither her in the sand pit, giving her piggyback rides, and pushing her high on the swings (though refusing her insistence on letting her do a full loop on them).

But it came to a point when Mia was literally trying to stuff his hulking body into the slides and tunnels of the play set. Not only was he physically unable to shrink his body enough to fit through the children’s playground without constantly hitting his forehead , but Joonghyuk was beginning to notice how intimidated the other children looked when he got near them.

It took a lot of convincing on Joonghyuk’s behalf to get Mia to go ahead of him and play with the other children, along with countless promises that he’d be right where she’d be able to see him and that he wouldn’t move an inch from the seat on the bench, but eventually Mia relented. Even now as she laughed with the others, her eyes often drifted to her older brother’s form.

For the same reason Joonghyuk’s sight was fixed on his sister, not leaving her for even a second.

After his conversation with Mia, Joonghyuk had been put in a sort of awkward position. Though the door to their reconciliation had been opened, he had no idea how to dispel the heavy emotional atmosphere that had accumulated. Luckily for him, Dokja came back to the bedroom soon after, Yoosung and Gilyeong in tow. Sensing the atmosphere of the room, he proposed that all of them take a small trip to the local park to stretch their legs and clear their minds after the hectic day all of them had just experienced.

Joonghyuk suspected that it was Dokja’s way of letting him and Mia interact with each other in a more relaxed setting, and for that he was grateful.

Speaking of which.

"Phew… if I’d known it was so hot I would’ve suggested going somewhere else, I don’t know how the kids are still running around in this weather" Dokja plopped down next to him, licking his ice cream cone as he undid the top button of his shirt. Joonghyuk followed the droplet of sweat that slid from his collarbone and disappeared down his shirt. Sensing Joonghyuk’s stare, Dokja looked at him, offering his ice cream cone.
"Want some?"

Joonghyuk glanced at the melting ice cream, eyes flitting over to the to the dingy ice cream truck that had been obnoxiously blaring music. The side of the truck was covered in fading advertisements for a variety unhealthy looking cold treats, the middle-aged man inside happily serving the line of children and parents waiting to order. Joonghyuk’s lips quirked down into a frown as he shook his head before bringing his eyes back to his sister.

Shugging at his response, Dokja went back to finishing his cone. The two of them sat in companionable silence as the children ran around in front of them. Occasionally the kids would run up to them, Gilyeong to show off a cicada he found resting on one of the trees, Shin Yoosung to give Dokja some flowers that she picked. But other than that, the two adults were left alone. But the atmosphere wasn’t necessarily relaxed. It came to a point where Dokja’s curiosity about Joonghyuk and Mia’s conversation wouldn’t leave his mind. Fidgeting with his fingers first, Dokja took a breath before addressing Joonghyuk.

"So…how did the talk with your sister goes?" he asked, trying to come off as casual as he could.

Joonghyuk didn’t respond immediately, looking down at his hand instead. He remained quiet for quite some time, to a point that Dokja felt guilty for overstepping.
"When I tried asking her about what kind of person I was, she burst into tears" he recalled suddenly.

Dokja blinked. "Eh?" he breathed out in confusion.
Joonghyuk’s mouth began opening and closing multiple times, wanting to answer but not able to find the right words. With a sigh, Joonghyuk ran a frustrated hand down his face.

"Dokja, I wasn’t good to her. She thought I’d abandon her at the drop of a hat.” Joonghyuk hunched over, his body stiff as he pinched to space between his eyes with a dark grimace. "She said she loved me for how I tried my best to take care of her. But that’s just an excuse. It’s my job. It doesn’t absolve me of anything,” Joonghyuk spat bitterly.

Dokja gaped at him in shock, not expecting the vulnerable outpouring that Joonghyuk had just shown him. Quickly snapping himself out of it, Dokja put a hand on his back. " Oi oi, I’m pretty sure you’re getting this all wrong, Joonghyuk. Mia seems like an outspoken girl, and an upfront one at that. She wouldn't cry and beg you to come back if you were never a good brother to her."

“That’s only because I conditioned her to place her self-worth in me. She believes that if I leave her, then it’s because I have no more use for her.”

“Don’t talk like that.” Dokja adamantly shook his head. “Even if she truly does think that, don’t make it seem like you did it on purpose.”

“But Dokja, how else—”

“No buts! Look, I know that I can’t say anything about how you might’ve been before we met, but I also know a thing or two about taking care of kids. Sometimes no matter how much we try to assure them, they get the wrong idea about the things we do for them. We can only try our best to correct our mistakes.”

Joonghyuk didn’t look like he fully believed Doja’s words, clearly wanting to say something but holding himself back. Resigning himself to the fact that they wouldn’t reach an agreement on the topic, Dokja took his hand off of Joonghyuk’s back, opting instead to look back towards the children. He rested his head on Joonghyuk’s shoulder.

“Joonghyuk, you’re in the here and now. If you really think you messed up, there’s no reason why you can’t start healing the pain Mia is feeling.”

Dokja waited with bated breath for any reaction that Joonghyuk may have given him. The alpha’s body went rigid when he leaned his body against him, and remained that way as Dokja said his final words.
Just as Dokja was about to move away, the body next to him relaxed, its weight sagging onto him for support. Joonghyuk let out a breath, and with it all the tension that had accumulated in his body seemed to release.

"…thank you." His words were barely audible, but Dokja smiled with relief nonetheless.

There were a lot of things about Joonghyuk that Dokja wanted answers for, questions that sprouted from Mia’s appearance at his doorstep but also ones he held from the very beginning of his cohabitation with Joonghyuk. With his real name finally confirmed, they were that much closer to finally solving everything. Though, now there was a real possibility that he was connected to Murim Company, which, well, Dokja didn’t even want to think about how much that would complicate the situation even more.

Having a billionaire heir living under his roof because he lost his memories in what may or may not have been a targeted attack would be just a bit hard for everyone to accept (Dokja thought, as though he wasn’t the heir to the Underworld Company that was worth billions itself). Especially considering their sub-genders, everyone would probably just assume that it was another story of an alpha galivanting away with an omega.

The more he thought about it, the more Dokja could feel a headache coming on in the back of his head.
Not wanting to deal with all the trouble right now, Doja pushed his loud thoughts to the back of his mind, settling to watch the children running around.

Mia looked a lot better now than earlier. Her pale complexion has brightened up immensely, and it helped that Gilyeong and Yoosung were by her side to keep her spirits up. Even just watching her play it was clear how similar she was to Joonghyuk. While the other two children didn’t hesitate to interact with the other children on the playground, it was clear that Mia was more reserved, the young girl choosing to keep to herself. When approached by the other children to play together, it looked like she simply tolerated their presence, much preferring to just interact with Gilyeong and Yoosung.

As the sun began sinking in the sky, the playground quieted down from its previously hyper atmosphere as the kids tired themselves out. Some of the families started leaving the park while others simply rested at the benches, wanting to enjoy being outside for a bit more.

Seeing this, Dokja stood up, stretching out his back and legs from being sat down for so long."I'm gonna go check up on the kids and get some ice cream for them. Do you still not want any? It’s your last chance to get one for yourself."

Joonghyuk opened his mouth, a light reprimand about how the children shouldn’t have snacks before dinner resting on his tongue. But after a moment of thought, he decided against saying it, telling Dokja that he was fine without it instead. He watched as Dokja ran off to the ice cream truck again, and then held back a grin at how loudly the children cheered when Dokja turned up with their sweet treats. Mia waved away Dokja’s hand angrily as he ruffled up her sweaty bangs, though Joonghyuk could see her ears turning a bit red from embarrassment. Feeling her brother’s gaze on her, Mia looked back at him, waving excitedly and showing off the popsicle that Dokja bought for her.

It was supposed to be a depiction of some sort of cartoon character, but the eyes were misaligned, and the rest of the popsicle barely resembled a face.
He simply waved back until Mia turned back to the others.

But there, sitting by himself on the bench, Joonghyuk didn’t remain alone for long. Joonghyuk felt a presence behind him and his eyes became cold. “You should be watching over Mia. What you need from me,” he addressed the man without turning back.

“I understand, Sajangnim. However, I must speak with you regarding a matter of importance. I assure you the Young Misses will still be safe should anything unexpected happen.” The bodyguard responded emotionlessly. “But as things stand right now, your return to the family should be carried out sooner rather than later if you wish to reclaim your position.”

Joonghyuk didn’t say anything as he continued to observe his younger sister. If the bodyguard’s presence wasn’t sufficient to tell him he came from an important family, then what he had just said proved it well enough. But what was the bodyguard implying with his words? Returning to his family, not because they were worried about him but because his position was being threatened. If the family was as cutthroat as he was thinking, then Mia had many other reasons for not wanting Joonghyuk to leave her alone again.

“This family of mine, does a man named Yoo Woojin have any association to it?”

“Yes, sir. Yoo Woojin would be your uncle and the current director of Murim Company.”

Joonghyuk hummed inquisitively. “Uncle huh…” Something about that felt off, but he couldn’t put a finger on what it was.“ Do I have any involvement in the business?”

“You’ve managed their operations for numerous years out of the public eye, and before your disappearance, you were making preparations to take over as the company’s CEO. Currently, the position is vacant, and your grandfather, Yoo Geon, is handling the company affairs in the meantime.”

Ah, there it was. A motive for him to be targeted.
Whatever made him to lose his memories, more and more evidence pointed to the event being a calculated attack, rather than some bizarre accident. The question now was whether they aimed to just put him out of commission or actually end his life, and if it was the latter, what they'd do when they found out he was alive. Thinking about it left a bitter taste on his tongue.

Joonghyuk clenched his fist. Even this so-called family of his couldn’t be ruled out as potential perpetrators. If he didn’t go back, then Mia may continue to be exposed to something dangerous. But if he did, would Dokja be safe, or would he also be targeted?

How could he do anything if he didn’t even know who the enemy was?

“Sajangnim…please control your pheromones… it’s become unbearable for others, especially children…” The bodyguard’s voice had choked up, as if he was struggling under a great pressure. The other parkgoers were now looking at them warily, deliberately steering their children away from them. Joonghyuk didn’t even realize what he was doing.

He sighed from frustration.

This was no place to lash out. He needed to control himself.

Joonghyuk fixed his posture as he tamped down his leaking pheromones. Amidst his inner turmoil the evening breeze grazed past the area, gently shaking up the leaves of the bushes and trees. There was no use overwhelming himself with things that were out of his control. What he needed to do now was to get his priorities in order and carry them out.

Rearranging his thoughts back to some form of coherency, Joonghyuk made a concise mental list of the things he had to focus on:

1. He needed to confirm whether the Yoo family was safe or not.

2. He needed to protect Mia and Dokja.

3. He needed to find out who attacked him the night he lost his memories.

Only three objectives on the list, but each were vast mountains to climb in their own right. In the first place, he barely had any connections to work with.

Joonghyuk gave the bodyguard a side eye. Putting his trust in a man he’d just met wasn’t ideal, but there was little other choice. If he was Mia’s bodyguard, surely he had some semblance of loyalty to Yoo Joonghyuk as well.

“Have you already informed the family of my whereabouts?” Joonghyuk questioned suspiciously.

The bodyguard looked down, his hands clasped behind his back, "I haven’t, Sajangnim.”

Joonghyuk raised an eyebrow. “And why is that?”

The bodyguard went quiet for a minute. “I am a guard for the Yoo family, but ultimately it is your orders that I follow. It is your choice whether to inform the family of your return.”

"…hmph" Joonghyuk made an approving noise and nodded at him, crossing his arms over his chest. “Then tell me what happened the day that I went missing.”

“I’m afraid I’m unable to do that.”

Joonghyuk gave him a questioning look.

“While there have been extensive actions made to search for you, the family has decided to keep the details of that night under wraps. Even then, a guard of my position wouldn’t have access to that kind of information. It’s likely the only people that could give you an answer would be Yoo Geon-nim and Lee Hyunsung-ssi, The only thing I know is that Hyunsng-ssi was the one driving the night you were ambushed, and afterward he was made to inform you grandfather about the events that transpired,” The bodyguard muttered to himself, nodding slightly at his own words.

Joonghyuk gave him a side eye. “Lee Hyunsung…?” Yet another new name, but one that rang a bell in his mind.

The bodyguard nodded. “He’s your second in command.”

Joonghyuk’s eyes narrowed at the phrasing. “Second in command of what?”

“… again, it would be best for Hyunsung-nim himself to clarify the details.”

Joonghyuk scoffed derisively, not in the mood to deal with the guard’s vagueness. He had no qualms answering Joonghyuk’s other questions, what was so complicated that it couldn’t be said right here and now while they were already talking. Still, the information he got was better than nothing, and he got the name of another person he’d be able to turn to.

He handed his phone to the bodyguard. “Type his number.”

The bodyguard wordlessly did as told, promptly handing the phone back. “I would take that you’ve chosen to delay your return, Sajangnim,” The bodyguard said, following Joonghyuk’s line of sight only to land on the delicate-looking black-haired male omega that was talking with the children. His boss looked at the omega with a burning fondness and protectiveness that was usually reserved for Yoo Mia.
“Is he the one that is keeping you from going back, Sajangnim?”

Joonghyuk’s eyes become cold. His arms spread out to rest on the back of the bench. “Your job is to protect Mia and answer to me, don’t concern yourself with anything else,” he ordered.

The bodyguard’s body stiffened, feeling suffocated again by Joonghyuk’s pheromones and stare. Perhaps these last few months without the boss present had made his manners go lax. Straightening up, he rushed to correct himself.

“Apologies, Sajangnim. I forgot my place. Please forget what I said.”

Joonghyuk dismissed his words with a snort before turning his head to see Mia gesturing for him to come over and join them. Nodding at her he stood up, but before he could even step, turned back to the bodyguard. “Before I forget, I need you to investigate someone for me.”

“Of course, Sajangnim. Just tell me who and the rest will be handled.”

Looking in the distance with no shortage of anger simmering in his eyes, Joonghyuk gave his answer.

“Song Minwoo.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 26: White Lies

Well.

Woojin supposed just one peaceful family dinner was too much to ask for.

The room was a mess.

As soon as it was launched across the room, the vase practically exploded into a thousand pieces as it crashed against the wall. Porcelain shards, dirt, and ripped up flowers now decorated the floors and wall. They would need to hire cleaners for the carpet. Father had only thrown the vase in retaliation against the wine bottle that Minji had launched his way, its contents now dripping down the broken window behind him.

Honestly, they were like kindergarteners, competing to see who could make a bigger mess of the room. And now the servants and maids had to deal with it.

The poor workers had been lined up against the wall of the room for the entirety of the meal, simply waiting for if any of the master’s would need to call on them. But the tenseness in their shoulders told Woojin that they were waiting for the other shoe to drop the whole time, just like him. The fight finally breaking out was a blessing and a curse. The vase barely missed some of the servants’ heads, but at least now they had an excuse to get out of there, and all of them rushed to throw away the shards and go get cleaning supplies.

Meanwhile, the table’s occupants were at a standstill.

None has so much as flinched when the crashes started wracking the room. They all just stared at each other. Predictably, Father was the first one to break the silence.

“HOW DARE YOU EVEN BRING UP THAT NOTION, MINJI?! Do I need to have you sent for another psychological evaluation?” He yelled, glaring down at her.

Minji didn’t say anything, responding to him with the same amount of venom in her eyes.

Years ago, Woojin may have felt sad about, may even shed a tear or two. But now annoyance was the only thing he could be bothered to muster up.

Things were just always like this now.

Father massaged his temples. “Marrying that woman? In what world did you think I would approve of this?”

“I don’t need your approval or permission. The fact that I’m telling you is already a privilege.” Her voice calm, but her words pierced him like daggers. His body shaking with rage, Father began to stalk toward her, raising up a hand to strike.

That was Woojin’s cue to step between them.

“You…!” Their father tried pulling away from Woojin’s tight grip around his wrist. "You really are trying to kill me aren't you, Min-ji?"

"Of course not," Minji replied. "With your age, a heart attack should be happening anytime now. Why would I waste the effort?"

Woojin almost laughed, but he pursed his lips. Father’s temper had already reached its limit for today.

Their father pointed his finger at his daughter. “Marry that woman and don’t even think you’ll have a place in this family any longer!”

Woojin widened his eyes. “Father, don’t say such things.”

“I refuse to have a daughter that continually goes out of her way to rip this family apart!” Father yelled at him, and then looked at Minji, who hadn’t broken out of her apathetic stare. “You always do this! Just when I thought you’d changed, you did this. How many times will you disappoint me, Yoo Min-ji?!”

He clenched his fist, his grip on his emotions loosening. “You were not like this before.” He said, his voice trembling with frustration. Then he remembered something, a dull recollection. “Tell me, is this because you still haven’t been able to accept—”

Min-ji immediately glared at him, her eyes flashing with a dangerous intensity. It was the first reaction she’d given after stepping foot in the mansion. “Don’t you dare mention her… She’s nothing but a pest to us,” she spit, her voice laced with venom.

Their father shook his head. “Just because you didn’t want her to marry your twin brother—”

“You mean how she betrayed me for that idiotic bastard?!”

Father opened his mouth to argue back, but something about the look Min-ji gave him cut him off. "He's… no…they’re the ones at fault for making me like this…”

After that, no one said anything. They all stared at each other, the weight of their unspoken words hanging heavy in the air.

But there was nothing there, and nothing else to add, just a gaping wound that refused to heal.

“Their deaths were a blessing that arrived too late.” With those parting words, Min-ji left the room.

Woojin and his father remained still, their eyes fixed on the door where Min-ji had just exited. Woojin looked at his father, whose expression was indecipherable.

He sighed.

“Thank you for the meal, Father. I’ll be taking my leave now.” He didn’t wait for a response.

Min-ji was right, but not completely. It was the entire family that destroyed her life, not just those two.While walking away, his feet ached to lead him back home. Being here was a headache. An annoying father, a stubborn sister, and a narcissistic older brother. This family was a fucking joke. The only reason he was here was because of Mia.

Speaking of which, where was she? He looked around the garden, but it was empty except for a few patrolling guards. At the very least, he should go check up on her. In the manor there weren’t very many that she was interested in playing in, nor that she was allowed in. If she wasn’t in the garden, then she was probably in her bedroom.

Quickly making his way over to it, he knocked on the door.

"Mia-yah? Ahjussi is here, can I come in?" He frowned as he heard a lot of rustling coming from the room.

For a moment, there was no response except the curious sounds of shuffling. But eventually, a muffled voice spoke from behind the door, "Go ahead, Ahjussi"
Opening the door, Woojin was met with a strange sight.

Mia’s room looked like a tornado had just blown through her room. Her clothes and belongings were strewn all over the place. On the floor were her backpack and suitcase, with the former buldging at the seam and the latter half-filled with clothes. Even as he entered Mia was carrying out an armload of her clothes from the closet, setting them down on the bed and meticulously sorting through them. She gave each garment a critical eye, setting most of them aside but opting to put a few of them in the suitcase.

"What exactly are you doing, Mia-yah?" Woojin warily made his way into her room, moving aside some clothes to make room for himself to sit at the corner of her bed. “Don’t tell me, you’re running away?”

Mia shot him an unimpressed look. “Of course not, Ahjussi” She went back to packing. “I’m going to stay over at my friend’s house.”

Woojin frowned. “All this clothes for one night away from home?”

“Who said I’m only leaving for one night?” Mia said, turning to look at him with a withering stare.

“Excuse me?”

Mia stopped what she was doing, setting the jacket she was looking at aside. “I’m not going to come back until Oppa comes back home.”

“What!? Mia, you’re a little girl, I can’t just let you do this without—”

“Unless you can bring Oppa home tomorrow, I won’t let you stop me, Ahjussi!”

Shock shot through Woojin’s system. “Mia, think this through. It could be weeks, even months before that may happen, if at all!” Mia ignored his words and went back to what she was doing originally, though she couldn’t hide the angry frown that had appeared on her face at her uncle’s words.

“Even if they’re your friends, you can’t expect them to let you live with them for god knows how long. If you don’t want to stay here anymore, then you can live with me for the time being, or I could even rent out hotel suite and have my men watch over you.”

But Mia adamantly shook her head at the suggestion. “I won’t live with anyone else but Oppa! And if I want to do all that, I’ll do it myself! I won’t let anyone else’s bodyguards get in the way, I have my own to help me already.”

Woojin and Mia stared at each other, neither one letting up on their positions. Woojin warily noted to himself how unlike her usual self Mia was being. He’d never seen her this adamant about doing something.

“Does… your grandfather know about this?”
Mia looks down as she pauses halfway through shoving a shirt into the luggage. “No… It isn’t like he would care about me anyway…” She knows her place in this family. She’s just Oppa’s younger sister and nothing else. With Oppa gone, there was nothing of value that she was connected to anymore.

Woojin’s eyes darkened, a familiar sense of sadness settling in his chest. Even if father only cared about his sister and Joonghyuk, to be so obvious bout it that even a little girl noticed... He patted Mia’s head. She was right. They were relegated to the roles of just…being there.

He could feel a pang of resentment building within him. He loved his sister, he loved Mia. He wished that his father could see them, see them for who they were. But it seemed like his father was trapped in his own world, a world where he only loved those who mirrored his own ideals.

Wrestling with his own thoughts, Woojin came to a tentative conclusion with himself. There was no denying that the household wasn’t a healthy environment for Mia, with Father’s oppressive presence and Min-ji’s resentment of Mia. But just letting Mia out to stay with complete strangers wouldn’t work. Even if Mia claimed that they were her friends, there was no telling what they could want from her, or what their parents and people around them would do to Mia.

Especially given what happened to her brother. Right now, Mia was completely absorbed in the continual disappearance of her brother, and the lack of any updates about him. She wasn't thinking straight right now. With how she refused to back down it looked like she wouldn’t be convinced to do anything else. So, for now, he would agree to let her stay at this friend’s house of hers. He’d do background checks of everyone in that household and have her bodyguards report to him about Mia’s wellbeing.

Eventually, Mia was bound to get homesick. By then maybe he could convince her to let him set up some more secure accommodations for her.

“Do you want me to drive you there?” Woojin offered, an olive branch of sorts.

Blinking in surprise at her uncle’s sudden agreement, Mia looked him up and down. Slowly coming to the conclusion that there didn’t seem to be any deception in his words, Mia hesitantly nodded.

“Mhm… Alright…” Mia muttered, continuing what she was doing. As Woojin watched her, he couldn’t understand why his sister hated Mia, but there had to be a reason. Maybe someday he could come to understand her.

"Oh, is this the house?" Woojin pulled the car to a stop in front of a charming two-story house with a porch swing swaying gently in the breeze. Before the car had even come to a complete stop, Mia was already unbuckling her seat belt and throwing open the car door, racing her way to the entryway. Rushing to go after her, Woojin turned off the ignition and made his way out himself.

In the short time span it took him to get to the front door, it was already swinging open, and two children ran towards Mia, shouting her name. His niece basked in the attention, easily being pulled in by their energy. Before Woojin had too much time to be warmed by the interaction, an older woman came from inside the house and lightly told the children to go help Mia bring her luggage in.

“Oh, you must be the brother Mia has talked so much about,” she said, smiling at him warmly.

He shook his head, “No, I’m her uncle, Yoo Woojin. It’s nice to make your acquaintance,” he said, extending his hand to her.

The woman’s eyes widened. “Oh my, excuse my manners but you just look so young,” she said, shaking his hand.

He smiled. “No worries, I get that a lot. Are you sure it’s all right for Mia to stay over?”

The woman dismissed his question with an easy smile and a hand wave, “Oh please, we couldn’t be happier to have Mia here! She’s such a sweetheart and the two children were practically bouncing off the walls waiting for her to come” she laughed. “We will take care of Mia in every way we can.”

Woojin looked passed her shoulders into the house, seeing all three of the children eagerly scurrying after each other like puppies. They’d been here for less than ten minutes, yet there was more happiness on Mia’s face than she had ever shown in the past decade of her life. It was a bittersweet feeling.

“I’m sure they’ll have a great time together,” he said.

“I’m just… I’m just a little worried is all. This is the first time Mia is staying with anyone outside the family.”

The woman chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’ll be home all evening to keep a close eye on them. We’ll make sure Mia has a safe and fun sleepover.”

Woojin nodded, trying to push aside his anxieties. He took a deep breath, trying to relax. Mia needed this, time away from the family, and time to realize her own childhood.

At least for a little bit.

“Okay,” he said, with a slightly forced smile. “I’ll get out of your hair now. But if anything happens, just call me with this number," handing her a business card from his coat pocket. Getting a nod of confirmation from the mother before she went to input the phone number into her phone, Woojin leaned further into the door way to call out to Mia.

“Have fun, Mia,” he said. “Be careful, and don’t stay up too late.”

She waved him off nonchalantly. “Don’t worry, Ahjussi, I’ll be good”

Observing Mia and her friends for a bit, Woojin gave a brief goodbye before heading back to his car, the children’s laughter following him back. The house got smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror, until it disappeared completely.

"Are you sure it was okay to lie to your uncle about staying here?" Yoosung asked, her brow furrowed with worry. All three of them were sitting on the living room floor. After she shuffled the Uno cards, Yoosung gave an equal amount to everyone so they could begin the game.

Mia put down a yellow three. "It's alright, besides I’m staying with my Oppa anyway." As much as she felt kind of guilty lying, she missed her Oppa. And it looked like Oppa still didn’t want to go home. So Oppa didn’t want to come to her, she’d just go to him.

"But still, he looked worried…" Yoosung muttered, her brow furrowed with concern. She put down a red three. “Why doesn’t your Oppa want to go home anyway?”

Mia huffed, her mouth setting itself into a childish pout. “Probably because of that ugly ahjussi.”

Gilyeong immediately protested, his voice filled with indignation. “Hyung isn’t ugly! Besides, your Oppa is the one who’s annoying, always sticking onto Hyung.” He gritted his teeth in anger, his face flushed with heat.

“Gilyeong, put down your card,” Yoosung reminded him.

“Oh!… Here,” Gilyeong said, fumbling with his cards before putting down a red Draw Two.

“Oppa isn’t annoying. That ahjussi is just seducing my Oppa!” Mia declared, her voice firm and unwavering.

“No, it’s the other way around. Your Oppa is the one who’s seducing Hyung!” Gilyeong retorted.

Silently taking two cards from the top of the deck, Yoosung’s eyes lit up at one of the cards she had gotten. Instead of using it, she decided to save it for later and put down a red six. “What if they’re like each other?” she wondered out loud.

Gilyeong and Mia turned toward her, their faces blank. They then looked at each other, and a wave of snorts and laughter had the both of them hunched over in incredulity. Yoosung just stared at them, her brow furrowed in confusion.

“That’s impossible, Oppa has high standards,” Mia claimed haughtily, shaking her head.

“Hyung only likes the protagonist from his webnovel,” Gilyeong said at the same time.

"But think about it…" Yoosung urged. “Both of them are picky about the people they like, but both of them still want to live together! Ahjussi usually hates alphas, but he doesn’t mind Joonghyuk-hyung. And Joonghyuk-hyung doesn’t look like he likes any other adult besides Ahjussi. It makes sense…!”

Gilyeong and Mia looked at each other wide eyed, as if contemplating the notion for just a second, before shaking their heads simultaneously.

“No, it’s impossible,” “That’s no happening,” they said over each other.

Yoosung just shrugged.

“If you both say so.”

Dokja glanced at his phone, the time flashing 12:14 noon. Lunchtime. He’d been glued to his desk, buried in work for hours, and his stomach rumbled in protest. He wasn’t exactly craving a fancy lunch, but today’s plans had directed him to a cozy café spot near the company building.

Normally he wouldn’t have even bothered to come to a place like this. It wasn’t his usual haunt, with his reluctance to spend any more than absolutely necessary on food, and especially now that Joonghyuk was living with him. The prices made him balk in a way that not even the café’s smooth jazz and soft pillow cushions could stop. Nevertheless, the promise of familiar company made Dokja just a bit more amenable.

The cafe was buzzing with the usual lunchtime crowd – lunch table meetups, suits hunched over laptops, couples whispering over steaming cups of coffee, and the constant clinking of plates and cutlery. Dokja took a seat by the window, allowing himself to be lulled by the gentle hum of the city.

For himself he ordered a coffee and a side of blueberry cake, a treat he usually reserved for special occasions. And then, as he usually did for occasions like this, he added a matcha coffee and a slice of cheesecake to the order.

From the meetup time that Dokja was given earlier, it seemed that he was a good deal of time early. But just as he went to pull out his phone, a slender, manicured hand knocked against the table to get his attention.

“Dokja-yah~!” a cheery voice called out to him over the café’s gentle hum. Looking up he was met with familiar emerald-green eyes and blonde locks. Under the face mask she had taken off was a blinding smile. Not hesitating to smile back, Dokja got up to accept her hug, letting her warmth seep into his body and her scent fill up his senses.

After she was satisfied, she pulled away from him, hanging the cardigan draped on her shoulders on the back of the chair and making sure to smooth out her silken dress as she sat down.

“It’s been too long, Uriel.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 27: Feelings

“It’s been too long, Uriel."

"I know, I know," Uriel replied, a sigh escaping her lips. Her hand rested on her chin, her face etched with weary exhaustion. “But there’s just so much that I have to do…”

“Right, you just wrapped up you fashion show in… that one place I don’t know how to pronounce,” Dokja hummed, taking a slow sip of his coffee. While he didn’t have any firsthand experience in the area, the many rants that he had been audience to had given Dokja an idea of the demands of Uriel’s profession. Her work took her all over the world, New York City, to the glamorous runways of Paris. If he was to believe the magazines that Uriel was featured in, then Uriel was a rather big deal in the fashion world, a true visionary.

She had given him a tour of her studio once, and the way that Uriel could take her designs from idea to paper to physical form was incomprehensible to him. Every fabric she touched seemed to come alive under her skillful hands, transforming into masterpieces that captured the essence of her unique aesthetic. She was a magician with thread and needle, all her creations looking like garbs that would have adorned angels.

Though, the lethargy that radiated from her now didn’t speak of a celebrated professional of her industry. Uriel sighed again, her pout deepening, “It was the Palais Bulles. It was well and fine, but…Ugh! It’s like pulling out teeth to get any time off! I barely got the time to just go hangout with you,” she whined, flopping dramatically onto the table.

Dokja chuckled at her usual theatrics.

Strangely enough, their initial meeting was an encounter at a masquerade party. One of Persephone and Hades’ more eccentric clients decided to hold it, but his parents were out of the country at the time and insisted Dokja attend in their place. It was a time when they’d been more pushy about having Dokja be the one to inherit their company. He would’ve refused, but they’d already prepared an expensive outfit for him.

Begrudgingly donning a mask, Dokja found himself navigating a crowded mansion while trying to avoid any and all conversation like the plague. Eventually he ran into Uriel on the balcony, equally reluctant to be there after realizing that big-wigs had no interest about hearing about her clothing designs. As the night progressed, the masks fell away, revealing the real people behind their facades and a friendship formed.
The party ended with the both of them trying to stuff their clothes with as much free food and party favors as they could get their hands on.

Needless to say, they kept in contact with each other and grew closer over the years.

“Come on, Uriel,” Dokja gently coaxed her. “You’re the one and only superstar ultra famous celebrity fashion designer after all. The industry wouldn’t be able to survive without you blessing them with your presence.”

“Blegh, don’t tease like that you bookworm!” Uriel rolled her eyes with a snort, afterwards straightening up and dusting off her clothes, “Luckily, I just need to finish this last collection and then my schedule will have a lot more breathing room than I’ve had these past months." Uriel sipped the matcha, the delicate flavor coating her tongue. “Speaking of, how have you been doing these days? Maybe finally find a cute office romance? A big, hunky CEO perhaps?” she batted her eyes at him, her emerald green eyes searching his face.

“Hmph. Sorry to disappoint, but I’ve been devoted to someone for a long time now.” Dokja struggled to keep a straight face as Uriel’s eyes bulged out of her head from what he just said. She ended up having a coughing fit after swallowing her drink down the wrong pipe. Dokja calmly handing her a napkin, waited for her to settle back down again.

“Wait wait wait,” she rushed out, in between coughs, “who are you talking about, when did this happen, are you being serious right now!?” With every question, Uriel leaned closer and closer to him across the table. It was squeaking under her weight and the iron grip she had on the tabletop.

“Of course I’m being serious, Uriel,” Dokja insisted, “I…actually met him when I was sixteen, though we only reunited recently. But I already knew the first time I saw him that it was true love,” Dokja said, a dreamy look in his eyes. This amount of information was hardly enough to satisfy Uriel though, and she started to shake the table demanding for him to continue.

“Details, Dokja, Details! You can’t just stop there! How’d you meet, what does he look like, what’s his name!?” She looked like a feral animal at this point, almost foaming at the mouth. Looking around, Dokja noticed that they had unwittingly attracted some attention from the other customers in the café. But he was having too much fun to get to Uriel to tone it down now, so he decided to ignore them and keep teasing her.

“Well, you know me, of course we met in the library. I just got really drawn in by him, and I spent the rest of that day trying to learn as much about him as I could. The next few months I spent any spare time I could with him. We lost contact after highschool, but I got to meet up with him recently actually, and the feelings just all rushed back,” Dokja starred off to the side as he fondly recounted his memories as Uriel absorbed all his words like a sponge.

“As for what he looks like…it’s a bit hard to describe,” Dokja sat back in his chair, tapping a finger against his chin, “ I guess you could say that he’s pretty sturdy and sleek. Very thick too.” Uriel let out a strangled noise. “If I’m remembering correctly, the length was about… over seven hundred pages?”

“……………..huh?” The frenzied look that was building in Uriel’s eyes came to a screeching halt.

“And his name—I could never forget it—was Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse. Isn’t that so unique? We’re actually living together now, he moved into the third bookshelf in my living room” Dokja glanced at Uriel for her response, now allowing the shit-eating grin he was holding back to spread over his face as he watched her process everything he said. It was like watching the little loading circle on the computer. The words having finally sunk in, Uriel slammed her face into the table, a forlorn moan escaping her lips.

“Uuugh, Dokjaaaaa…do you enjoy getting my hopes up just to crush them to dust like that?” she wailed at him.

Dokja took a calm sip of his coffee. “I mean, technically I was telling the truth…” He quickly put his hands up when she shot a death glare over at him. “I’m just saying, if you knew how happy I was to get the collector’s edition that was released last month, you’d call it true love too! I’ve been waiting over a decade for some high-quality reprints of the book to be released.”

"You little..."Uriel grumbled the rest of the sentence, not having the vocabulary to find the perfect word to summarize just how duplicious Dokja was. She eventually gathered enough of her bearings to peel herself off the table, throwing an out-of-place hair strand back over her shoulder with a pout. “I didn’t come back to Korea just for you to betray me like this…just because your love life is as barren as the Sahara Desert…”

But as soon as Uriel finished her sentence, there was a shift in the air. Not just the mood, but the scent. Dokja’s scent. Though he was wearing his collar as usual, Uriel’s extra keen sense of smell could pick up a small amount of the pheromones he naturally gave off. And it changed subtlety when she’d said the last part. It took on a more…surprised scent, maybe even panicked? Did she offend him somehow? No, that wasn’t it. Dokja never took it seriously when anyone ribbed him about his love life. No, no, rather than hurt, he looked nervous. He was wearing that customer service smile he put on whenever he was hiding something.

Wait, now that she was really paying attention to it, she could smell something other than Dokja’s natural scent on him. Something more musky and deep.

That must mean…

Uriel narrowed her eyes, a playful smirk playing on her lips. “Oh? Maybe you’re not as alone as I thought…?”
The second that Uriel leaned in to get a better whiff of his scent, Dokja started sweating bullets. Even though he’d taken precautions to put on more scent blockers and maskers ever since Jiwon and Sangah noticed Joonghyuk’s scent in him, he shouldn’t have underestimated the nose of another alpha.

Dokja reached up a hand to rub his neck nervously.
“It’s…” He was stuck between saying ‘it’s complicated’ or ‘it’s nothing’, but before he could choose either one of them, Uriel wagged a finger in his face.

“Nope, not gonna let ya’ clam up about it in front of me, not after that trick you pulled.”

“Uriel…” It was Dokja’s turn to pout.

Damn it. Leave it to Uriel to pry past his excuses the second he lets his guard down.

Well, it’s not like he would’ve been able to keep her of his back about it forever. Like the gossip queen she was, Uriel always had a way to wriggle herself into everyone’s dirty laundry to be in the loop, even when she was hallway across the world. It was a talent he couldn't quite understand, one which inspired equal amounts of awe and apprehension in him. Even Sooyoung, with all the shady connections she had, often found herself trailing behind Uriel, trying to keep up with her ever-expanding network of information.
Going back and forth with himself for a moment, Dokja let out a heavy sigh.

“Fine,” he exhaled with resignation. “I’m warning you though… it’s complicated.”

Uriel raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. She leaned forward, her arms resting on the table. “No worries, I can take on the challenge, I’m all ears. Just means all the more juicy details.”

Dokja looked at her, his gaze wavering. “Actually, I really wasn’t lying about something I said earlier. I met someone recently and I’m living with them currently” He hesitated before adding the next part, “With an… alpha…”

Uriel’s jaw hit the table with a resounding thud. Her brain seemed to have momentarily short-circuited, unable to process the information. But this time, Dokja wasn’t laughing at all.

“An alpha?!”

Her voice, sharp and unexpected, drew the attention of several patrons, their frowns and annoyed expressions adding to the growing tension. Dokja immediately hushed her. “Yes, yes, now keep it down!” Uriel, still panting slightly, sat back down, her face flushed.

“Do Sooyoung and the others know about this alpha?”

Dokja parted his lips reluctantly, his voice barely a murmur. “Yes…”

But she had heard him. Her eyes narrowed, a hint of accusation creeping into her voice. “Oh, come on, this isn’t fair. Why am I the last to know?”

"We’re not—I’m sorry, alright. But everything is all over the place right now, I haven’t even told my parents about him.” His voice lowered to a whisper, as if just mentioning Hades and Persephone would invoke their presence.

Oh, so this mystery alpha was a ‘he’, and Dokja’s parents were out of the loop about Dokja living with him?

Now, it was that last little tidbit that sparked a fire in Uriel’s mind. Sure, Hades and Persephone didn’t need to be privy to every little detail of Dokja’s life. But Dokja purposely going out of his way to make sure they didn’t find out? That was too juicy to just let slide by.

Her mind raced, trying to make sense of this puzzle. Could this alpha be someone his parents didn’t approve of? Were they living in the house, hiding their relationship, a love that shouldn’t bloom? Was this alpha… a criminal? Her thoughts spun wildly, a whirlwind of speculation. What if his parents had discovered that this alpha was involved in something shady, something they didn’t want him to be associated with? Had Dokja refused to break it off?

Had they chosen to defy their parents, living together in secret, a rebellion of hearts?

“Uriel? Uriel~?” A hand waved in front of her face, bringing her back to reality. She blinked, her gaze meeting Dokja’s. He was wearing an expression of concern and amusement. “Did you hear anything of what I just said?” He asked, a touch of disbelief in his voice.

“Of course! You and that alpha are lovers that are kept away from each other by fate. Forced apart from each other, the both of you must—”

“Ah, so you really didn’t listen… I must start all over again,” Dokja interrupted her.

Uriel crossed her arms, disgruntled about not being able to finish her tangent. “Well, I’m sorry. I was thinking of why your parents don’t approve of your alpha.”

Dokja frowned, shaking his head. “Approve? My parents don’t even know that he exists. And we’re not dating. Joonghyuk and I are just…friends,” He trailed off, his voice fading, his gaze dropping to the table.

Uriel saw that, the sudden shift in his demeanor, the way his eyes faltered. It was almost as if he was trying to convince himself as much as he was trying to convince her. But before she could delve deeper into that, she had to address the elephant in the room.

“Why exactly don’t you want your parents finding out about him?” Dokja wouldn’t be this secretive about a casual friendship, not with her nor his parents. There was something more to this, and she was determined to find out what it was.

Dokja ran a hand over his face. "You know them, if they found out some strange alpha was living with me then, they never stop hounding the both of us.”

Uriel’s confusion deepened. “But if you trust him and he’s a good guy then there shouldn’t be a problem with it, right? Why’s he even living with you anyhow?”

Dokja sighed. “And with that, we’ve arrived at the complicated part.” He decided just to spill everything, their bloody first encounter, the amnesia, how Joonghyuk may or may not have been a billionaire (as time went on, things were heavily pointing to the former).

Of course, he left the blurred lines of their relationships, and the moments that whispered of something more. If he couldn’t convince himself, how was he supposed convince Uriel that this was just a temporary arrangement.

“Damn, the Yoo family? That could be interesting.” Uriel said, grabbing a bite of cheesecake, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“Yeah, but I haven’t heard anything about their director going missing…” Dokja said, a hint of unease in his voice.

Uriel shrugged. “Well, with how big they are as a business and as a family, it wouldn’t do them too well for the entire country to shine a spotlight on new like that. Not exactly a play that would make the investors happy, at least.” Plus, they were a family that operated in shadows, under their public image. Having public scrutiny on the company itself would be a gateway to more proactive investigation into the family’s dirty laundry.

Dokja hummed contemplatively. “Yeah, you may be right about that. But he’s slowly recovering, and memories are bound to come back soon. So, whether he’s a Yoo family big shot or not, he’ll probably be going back home before we know it.”

Hmm. Uriel stared at Dokja for a minute, something about what he just said felt terribly off. Whether it was his words or his tone, she couldn’t quite put a finger on it. But she knew enough to be able to tell that Dokja was holding back something else from her. And it definitely had something to do with whatever was happening between Dokja and that alpha.

She mused to herself about a saying that she once heard: ‘More than friends, but less than lovers.’

Uriel sighed. She put her arms on the table, her gaze fixed on Dokja. “Okay, spill it out”

Dokja raised an eyebrow. “I literally just told you everything about the situation, did you space out again?”

Not falling for Dokja’s diversion, Uriel steamrolled right into the topic. “I know there’s something going on between you and that alpha that you’re leaving out, Dokja. Lie to everyone else all you want, but you can’t lie to me, and I won’t let you lie to yourself, Dokja.”

Not expecting how forward Uriel decided to be, Dokja’s eyes widened at her. But upon meeting her dead serious stare, Dokja was unable to look her in the eyes. Instead, he opted to look at the floor and round the café. And when that got old, he resorted to picking at his clothes and looking at the lines on his palms. An uncomfortable silence settled over the table, much different from the energy it had earlier. But Uriel wouldn’t be perturbed by his irresponsiveness and didn’t let up. She’d wait here until nighttime in complete silence until Dokja finally got the nerve to speak up. And eventually Dokja realized this too, because he finally stopped fidgeting with his fingers, letting them drop.

“It’s complicated, Uriel.”

“And like I said earlier, I’m here to listen.”

Dokja shook his head fervently.

He felt a lump forming in his throat, the thoughts that he’s suppressed ever since Mia’s arrival now returning to him tenfold. He knew it was selfish for him to think like this. He should’ve been happy for Joonghyuk, he finally got to reunite with someone who knew him for who he truly was. Joonghyuk would be able to go home to a place he belonged to, with people that knew and cared for him. Dokja should’ve been happy, and he needed to do everything he could to help Joonghyuk get his memories back. But…he couldn’t. Even now, he can’t even bring himself to look up Joonghyuk’s name to find out more information about him. Because if he did, then it would overwrite everything that they’d gone through together. The Joonghyuk he knew now was formed from completely different experiences than the real Yoo Joonghyuk. Right now, he only tolerated Dokja because he was the first and main person Joonghyuk interacted with in his state of amnesia. But if he got back his memories…he’d probably want nothing to do with damaged goods like him.

“Ugh, I’m so stupid for letting myself get caught up in my head like this. Why can’t all of these thoughts just go away, I’d just be holding him back.”

Uriel grabbed his hands, her touch warm and reassuring. "Hey, no beating yourself up like that. Deep breaths Dokja, talk me through your thoughts."
Heeding Uriel’s words, Dokja did just that. After a few deep breaths, Dokja spilled…basically everything that had been accumulating inside his head ever since he began suspecting that he felt something more for Joonghyuk…whenever the hell that was. It was cathartic, unfairly so. He really didn’t realize how much all of this had been weighing on his mind. Saying his thoughts out loud like this made it so he didn’t trap himself in and argument with himself, nor did he spiral down and endless self-deprecating echo chamber The heaviness pressing down on his stomach slightly let up.

All the while, Uriel’s warm hand over his remained a constant.

“—anyway, between his sister coming back, my own reluctance to let him go, and everything in between, I’m just stuck. I know what I have to do, for Joonghyuk’s sake! But every time I try to, I just end up psyching myself out all over again,” Dokja finished.

No more words were exchanged between the two as Uriel took her time digesting everything that she had just heard, carefully formulating how she wanted to respond to him. Dokja fidgeted with the rim of his mug as he tried dissecting the occasional flickers of emotion that passed over her face before fading out just as quickly as they came.

With a long drink, Uriel finished off her coffee, setting down her cup with a definitive thunk before lacing her fingers together and looking him in the eyes. The gesture had Dokja straightening his back in anticipation of what she had to say.

“Okay, Dokja. The bottom line is it sounds like the only thing keeping you from Joonghyuk is yourself. More specifically, your inability to trust him,” she stated with finality

Dokja reeled back at her words, his eyes wide. “ah—wh—huh!?” he sputtered dumbly. “What are you talking about? Everyone else says that I rely on him way more than I usually do with anybody else!” But Uriel shook her head.

“No, not like that. Sure, you trust his capabilities in doing things, and you even trust his alpha instincts not to harm you, which is a big step. But what I’m talking about is emotional Dokja,” she replied firmly. “Rather, it’s the fact that you won’t let yourself trust him. Tell me Dokja, when’s the last time you’ve willingly let yourself be vulnerable to someone? No wisecracks, no ribbing, no jokes. Just pure openness?” Dokja’s jaws clenched, and he looked down at the table to avoid her stare.

Uriel paused for a second to let Dokja respond, but when he didn’t have any her, she continued.

“You’re like this with pretty much everyone, hiding away parts of yourself under lock and key, and it’s—no, stop, I didn’t bring it up to criticize you. Everyone has limits to how much of themselves they’re willing to share. But that part of you knows how vulnerable you’ll be if you admit any of what you just told me to that alpha of yours, and now it’s terrified that he might hurt you and is telling you to run awa—”

“So why shouldn’t I!?” Dokja growled at her, glaring down at his lap. “If I’m too much of a coward to face Joonghyuk, then I don’t deserve him the first place. At least he won’t know that my own mind is as defective as my fucking body is.” He glared down at himself. His eyes burned with unshed tears, and he could feel his throat constricting.

Uriel grit her teeth. There was a lot she wanted to say in response to that, but she held her tongue. One hurdle at a time, one hurdle at a time.

“…you mentioned earlier that you told Joonghyuk about…your body. Did he look at you any differently when he found out?”

Dokja flinched, his breath hitching. Her question hung in the air. He couldn’t answer.

He couldn’t. Because the truth was… he didn’t. Joonghyuk had simply held him as he cried. He hadn’t looked at him with disgust, or pity.

Dokja hated himself for that. For the way he clung to Joonghyuk that time, and for every time after that. The way his heart ached with longing was both confusing and exhilarating. Joonghyuk’s presence filled his world, and he was starting to believe that maybe, just maybe, he was worthy of it.

How dare he hope for something more.

"He didn't, did he?" Uriel softened her voice when she saw how much Dokja was struggling with himself. “ I know it’s hard to believe, but for everything you’ve told me, I truly think that he cherishes you just as you do for him.”

The tears that were building up began streaming down his face, despite how much Dokja was trying to hold them back. He turned his face away, not wanting to draw attention to them.

He didn’t know why he was crying. He wasn’t like this. He didn’t let his emotions control him.

Dokja wiped his tears, trying to regain control, before again trying to refute Uriel’s words.

“I’m literally the person that’s housing him while he recovers, of course he’s not going to say anything that might get him kicked out. Even if he did mean it, it came from ‘Joonghyuk’ the amnesiac that that has spent every waking moment with me, not the actual ‘Yoo Joonghyuk’. Maybe he just became attached to me after we spent so much time together—I don’t know. Anyways, after he gets his memories back he’ll probably go back to normal and not want to associate with me.”

Uriel stared at him with worry. She didn’t understand why he was trying to so flippantly dismiss everything between him and his alpha. Well, she understood but at the same time she didn’t. Dokja wouldn’t cry like this if he was just having a stupid crush. If he felt any less strongly about this, then he’d probably brush it off and ignore it until it went away, letting his feelings wither away.

“You may be right, in that he’ll probably change when his memories come back. But our actions and behaviors are determined by our innate temperaments just as much as they are by our environment. The bond you two share could very well have sprouted from Joonghyuk’s natural disposition. You can’t say for sure that your connection with him will be completely severed when the time comes."

“But, what if—”

“Then fight,” Fire blazed in Uriel’s eyes. “Let your feelings flow freely, and fight for him, Dokja. Push back against yourself and anything else that’s in the way of your happiness. Love him in a way that makes him never want to go home. Don’t let all of this turn into regret, don’t let yourself be haunted by what ifs. ”
Apprehension and longing churned into a volatile mixture in Dokja’s stomach. Should he? Fight for Joonghyuk?

…

He was afraid. Terrified. He had always been careful, so reluctant to put himself out there.

But how many times had he been in this position?

Crying to himself and desperately longing for love that the world wouldn’t grant him. All those times, Dokja had been at the mercy of everyone else in his life, unable to control their actions and the consequences that always came back around hurting him in the end. Maybe it was because of that that Dokja gave up on everything, forgetting that he had any control in his life.
And now, here Uriel was, telling him to fight.

There was something about Joonghyuk that stirred something deep within him. A voice, much quieter than all the other ones in his head constantly repeating ‘what if this’ and ‘what if that’. It told him that to take the chance, even if he’d be hurt by it in the end.

This was the first time in a long time that Dokja held desire anything for so badly. And rather than the outcome being determined by anything or anyone else, it all fell onto the actions that he took. In a life like his, this type of situation was unfathomable. So Dokja had resigned himself to the worst outcome, rather than thinking of how to get the future that he wanted.

Uriel was right.

It was a risk. But that risk was a choice that he grasped with his own hands.

It didn’t mean that all of his fear had simply dissipated.

No. If anything, it was stronger and even more persistent than before, now that he’d set his mind to it.

But this is something that Dokja had to do for himself.

For the sake of living his life not being haunted by the possibility of what could’ve been.

He chose to fight.

Chapter Text

Chapter 28: Destructive Mind

The walk home was proving more exhausting than he’d anticipated. Dokja sighed, his hand tightening around the strap of his bag. It was already 9:00 PM. On a regular day he should’ve been home by now, having already shared dinner with Joonghyuk and laying sprawled across his bed, scrolling mindlessly through his phone. But no, his asshole of a manager at work had decided to dump a mountain of paperwork on him, paperwork he didn’t even have the experience or credentials to be handling in the first place. The past few weeks had been relatively smooth sailing at work, at least as smooth sailing as they could be with a manager like his. But no, he supposed the regular workplace abuse was back on the menu.

Ah, well, what can you do about it, right?

And so here he was, trudging along the sidewalk between the train station and his home. On some days, the walk was rather calming. He would set a slow pace for himself, taking his time to observe the neighborhood around him under the orange glow of the streetlights and the stars above. Sometimes the kids would join him, if he got off from work early enough to meet them when they got off from school. These days, more often than not it was Joonghyuk accompanying him, meeting him halfway from home just so he wouldn’t walk alone.

But tonight, exhaustion had set in. His eyes ached, his legs burned, and the weight of the day pressed down on him. He couldn't even bring himself to pull out his phone, to scroll through meaningless content, or turn on the flashlight to illuminate the path ahead.

Thank goodness, the street was well-lit, a string of lampposts casting a warm glow on the pavement. It wasn’t pitch black, but the shadows still stretched long and distorted, making the already tiring walk feel even more arduous. It was these days that made Dokja promise himself that he would suck it up and get a driver’s license already (of course he never went through with it, but it’s the thought that counts, right?).

The exhaustion went beyond physical fatigue. There was a heavy weight, pressing down on his shoulders, but his mind didn’t process it. The uneven pavement, the occasional stumble over a loose stone, he barely registered it. Instead, his body moved through the motions while his mind remained miles away, replaying his conversation with Uriel.

The future stretched before him, a vast and terrifying expanse filled with a whirlwind of uncertainty. Fear, raw and familiar but unfamiliar at the same time, clawed at him. He'd never felt this way about anyone before, this confusing, all-consuming intensity. The grip on his bag tightened, Dokja digging his nails into the worn leather, his knuckles white. He bit his lower lip hard, a desperate attempt to suppress the torrent of emotions threatening to overwhelm him. So many feelings, so many possibilities. He couldn't even articulate what exactly was churning inside him. But Uriel's words echoed in his mind.

Right, he chose to fight, didn’t he?

No more of these depressing thoughts. It was time for him to look up and see the good things that could come!

Happy thoughts…Happy thoughts…

Maybe…

Maybe Joonghyuk really would reciprocate his feelings. He could be going through the exact same emotions and turmoil that Dokja was experiencing right now. If Dokja confessed, they could be together, and the burdens that they had clung on to for so long would finally be relieved. Joonghyuk could also reject his feelings. Then he’d be stuck with some desperate omega and try to get out as fast as he could.

Maybe of Joonghyuk did change when he got his memories back, they could get to learn about one another again. Even when lost and in a foreign environment, Dokja was utterly taken by how capable Joonghyuk was despite all of it. He could only imagine how much more entrancing Joonghyuk could be when he returned to his natural element, how many new facets of Joonghyuk would reveal themselves for him to fall for. There could be another person longing for Joonghyuk just as much as he was, wanting Joonghyuk to return to them as much as Dokja wanted him to stay. A real omega could be waiting for him, perhaps with pups they had together, a real family.

Let’s say it really did end with Joonghyuk rejecting him. Dokja knew his feelings to be real, and to have had a real impact on him. The pain of rejection could only stem from the immense warmth Joonghyuk had given to him. Rejection wouldn’t cause these feelings to die, nor did he have to kill them off, if they went unreciprocated. Just having Joonghyuk is his life was a miracle unto itself. miracle he cherished every day when he came home to Joonghyuk. And what if Joonghyuk was no longer there, leaving and never turning back? The question hung in the air, a dreadful possibility that threatened to break him.

…he wasn’t very good at this whole ‘positive thoughts’ thing, was he?

Dokja’s shoulders slouched, both hands aggressively rubbing his face as he groaned to himself. Well, guess that’s what happens when you spend the past few decades of your life being a professional pessimist.

Baby steps, Dokja, baby steps.

He spent the next few minutes like that, constantly going back and forth with himself. Telling himself attempts at positive affirmations followed by all the worst-case scenarios that his mind would hurl back at him. It was like eating the sweetest cake and chasing it down with the bitterest coffee. So much whiplash that Dokja thought that he was getting dizzy from it. For some reason, his mind was resolute in only dealing in extremes, at least when it came to things that made him depressed.

Thanks a lot for that, brain.

'…'

'…'

'…'

Did mother ever feel this way about that ‘father’ of his before she gave birth to Dokja?

“…"

Dokja stopped dead is his tracks.
The unwarranted thought knocked all breath from his lungs. Where had it come from, why did he even…Dokja bit down hard on his lip. No, don’t fall for it, don’t you dare go down that line of thought. Shove it to the back and let it rot away, where it belongs.

But the door had already opened, and everything came flooding in.

The image of his mother flashed through his mind, an omega worn down by hardship, her face etched with exhaustion. Her clothes were perpetually rumpled, covered in the dirty handprints of her husband. They hid away the other marks that man left on her body. The smell of smoke and alcohol was soaked into her skin, drawing frowns of disapproval where she left the house, especially if she had Dokja in tow. Other mothers decorated themselves with the jewelry their husbands gave them. Earrings, bracelets, and rings that sparkled in the sun. Mother donned slings and bruises, along with her own desperation for dignity.

They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. He inherited his mother’s subgender. Could he have inherited her ‘tastes’ as well. With that body of his, Joonghyuk could so easily overpower him—

Dokja pressed a hand against his chest, to quell the rising tide of panic. He breathed heavily, his legs threatening to give way under him. Luckily, he managed to steady himself, his hand finding purchase on a nearby mailbox.

Sweat beaded on his forehead, chilling familiarity coating his skin. It felt like that night, when his father’s rage had finally broken his mother, oppressive heat accompanied by suffocating fear. And finally, the accumulated desperation was released.

Stop, Dokja demanded of himself. He couldn't think about that now. And he wouldn’t dare think of Joonghyuk in that light, not after everything the alpha had done for him

No, Joonghyuk was a kind alpha, one that wore a pink apron as he cooked Dokja’s meals every day and greeted him home after a long day at work. Who put up with his meaningless quips and rants about nothing. And never had he used his own alpha status or Dokja’s omega status to his advantage. Not even when Dokja was in the middle of his heat, for gods’ sakes! Only the gods know why Joonghyuk was so accepting of Dokja, and all of his flaws inside and out.

Well, he supposed that that he's just putting on a show, but once he has you wrapped around his finger, who knows what’ll happen? was why he fell for the man in the first place.

But Joonghyuk wouldn’t do anything to him. Right?

He’d known the man for only over two months now, and Joonghyuk had been nothing but kind despite having to adjust to such strange circumstances. If Joonghyuk was misleading him Joonghyuk didn’t have anything to hide from him, with or without his memories

He was sure what Uriel had told him wasn’t wrong. The Joonghyuk he knew in this moment wasn’t the true Joonghyuk.

If not, then…

Ugh, stop it, just STOP! This couldn't be all his resolve amounted to, right? It all boiled down to desperate words trying to convince himself of Joonghyuk’s virtue. Why did he even need to convince himself. He knew of it in his heart, he lived it!

Dokja’s hand tightened on his chest, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs. He tried to shuffle forward, but his legs threatened to give way beneath him.

Dokja squeezed his eyes shut, trying to push back the wave of fear that threatened to consume him.

Joonghyuk wasn’t like that, he insisted to himself. He isn’t. But the image of his father, cruel and abusive, grafted itself over Joonghyuk’s, as if it had any right to taint Joonghyuk’s visage like that. No, he would refuse to acknowledge it, refuse to dissect where the two images overlapped with each other.

Joonghyuk’s touch was kind.

Dokja didn’t want to be hurt anymore.

But hurting him was all his mind wanted to do right now

The insidious voice in his head continued its relentless assault, its words a venomous whisper that burrowed into his head. "It’s not wrong to have these thoughts, you’re just trying to protect yourself. How can you be sure about this?” it taunted. “He’s not the real him. You’ll never truly know him. You don’t have the guts to. You can’t even search for his info. You’re just blindly throwing yourself into this."

The relentless negativity of the voice in his head was wearing him down. A cold dread that seeped into his bones. It gnawed at his confidence, eroding his resolve. Was he really deluding himself?

The memory of his friends' words surfaced a lifeline in the stormy sea of his anxieties. Jiwon's pragmatic advice, Uriel's fiery encouragement, they were anchors in the turbulence of his uncertainty.

“If you want to get to know him more, then go for it. But we want you to be happy, with or without him."

“Let your feelings flow freely, and fight for him, Dokja. Push back against yourself and anything else that’s in the way of your happiness”

The echo of their words reminded him of the joy Joonghyuk brought into his life. Yes, he was happy. He was happy in a way that was both unfamiliar and exhilarating, a happiness he hadn’t known he was capable of. Their words were a balm against his mind.
But it was inevitable that the doubt would linger. It always did. The answer to it, he knew, lay within himself, in the depths of his own heart, in the strength of his own will to fight for the happiness that was, perhaps, finally within his reach.

Dokja opened the door to his apartment, the familiar scent of cooking food washing over him. He recognized the aroma instantly—Joonghyuk’s cooking. Usually, the smell would make his stomach rumble, his mouth water. But tonight, his appetite was completely gone. The only thing he craved was the oblivion of his bed, to allow the quiet solitude of curling up into a ball overtake him.

As he stepped inside, Dokja heard sounds emanating through the house—the metal clangs of the pans and, surprisingly enough, muffled voices. He didn’t recall inviting anyone over, and Joonghyuk… who would Joonghyuk even invite? Taking off his shoes and hanging up his coat, Dokja glanced at the living room to see if Joonghyuk had left on the TV again. But no, the screen was black. Curiously making his way over to the kitchen, Dokja was able to parse out who the voices belonged to. One of them unmistakably Joonghyuk's, the other a child's laughter, bright and infectious. A moment later, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching from the kitchen, meeting him halfway.

"Kim Dokja." Joonghyuk’s soft voice reached his ears, bringing him back to the present. Joonghyuk was wearing his apron, his hair slightly tousled, and a faint blush on his cheeks. "Welcome back."

That smile. Joonghyuk gave it to him so freely, and yet Dokja had the audacity to think such horrible things about him.

Usually, that smile would be enough to melt away Dokja's anxieties. He'd be mesmerized by its warmth. But not tonight. This might have been rude of him, but Dokja couldn’t face the source of his conflict right now. Today had left him raw and aching.

He looked at Joonghyuk, offering a weak, smile. "Joonghyuk-ah…" he managed, the words barely a whisper. Dokja didn’t know what to say, or even how to interact with Joonghyuk right now.

Joonghyuk, noticing the strained expression on Dokja’s face, and the exhaustion etched into his features, frowned slightly. He opened his mouth to speak, when a little girl’s voice cut through the air.

“Oppa, I already washed my hands—” The words trailed off as Mia, Joonghyuk’s sister, spotted the two adults standing there. She looked from Dokja to Joonghyuk, her big, curious eyes taking in their expressions. Then, with an unsubtle pout on her lips, she reluctantly greeted him. “Hello, Ahjussi…”

Dokja’s mouth was agape, he didn’t expect her to be here, though it made sense with Joonghyuk staying her.e "Hello to you too, Mia-ya." Did she come here to get her brother to come home his mind questioned. But then his eyes drifted around the living room, settling on a large suitcase adorned with cartoon cat stickers. He frowned questioningly at it.

Following Dokja’s line of sight, Joonghyuk was quick to explain. "Ah, about that," he began, his words carefully chosen. "Since we’ve been apart for so long, Mia said she wanted to stay with me here as I get back my memories. I also think that it’ll be good to have someone here to remind me of my past. Would you be okay with that?"

Dokja’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. He’d assumed Joonghyuk was considering moving home with his sister, a more logical scenario. The thought of Joonghyuk living with Mia, in his home, sparked a small flicker of happiness that had his inner omega purring amidst the swirling anxieties. But it didn't alleviate the weight of his internal conflict; the worries remained, a persistent undercurrent beneath the surface.

"Of course, don't worry about it, Joonghyuk-ah. She can take the other guest room beside yours." Dokja said, his voice a touch strained. He started towards the stairs. "I’ll go to my room then…"

"You still haven’t had dinner." Joonghyuk said, following him.

Dokja looked over his shoulder, meeting Joonghyuk’s gaze with weary eyes. "Don't worry, I had a company dinner, I’m fine for tonight,” he replied, offering a tired smile. Liar. He would’ve called ahead to tell Joonghyuk if that was the case. “This is your first meal with Mia in a long time, right? I’ll leave you two to your own devices. Have a good dinner, Joonghyuk."

Joonghyuk didn’t respond, but he also didn’t stop Dokja as he made his way upstairs. Dokja could feel his eyes bearing down on him the entire time.

Trudging to his room felt like walking through sludge. Dokja closed the door behind him with a thump, letting all strength in his legs give out as he collapsed heavily onto the edge of his bed. The heavy curtains of his windows were parted, his reflection against the sliver of darkened glass staring back at him.

His phone weighed heavily where it sat in his pocket. Taking it out, shaking fingers types out his password and went to a search bar. Dokja hesitated. He knew Joonghyuk’s real name now; a simple search online could reveal so much. But Dokja was still searching for any excuse he could not go through with it. The memory of ordering Bihyung to investigate Joonghyuk surfaced; he still hadn’t received any updates from him. Eagerly closing out of the tab, he opened his contacts, scrolling through the list until he found Bihyung’s name. He stared at it, his thumb hovering over the call button.

Right, this is what he resolved to do. And hey, if it turned out to be horrible news, he could sob about it to Bihyung instead of being left alone with the cold words on his phone screen. But it could also be good news, you never know! Oh, but it’s the middle of the night right now, Bihyung could be sleeping or tired from work. He was always complaining about how Dokja pestered him too much. It would be more considerate to call tomorrow, wouldn’t it? Why call at all even? If Bihyung didn’t report back, then surely that meant that he hasn’t found anything useful yet.

…excuses excuses excuses

He closed his eyes, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of his indecision. Then, with a sigh, he laid the phone down on the bed, defeated.

Damn it, he needed to pull it together already.
"Kim Dokja?" A voice abruptly interrupted his thoughts. Dokja opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping across the room. He was alone, wasn't he? It must have been a hallucination. But then, the voice called out again, louder this time. "Dokja, you there?" His eyes settled to his phone, lying on the bed. Tilting it up to see Bihyung’s name staring back at him on screen. He hadn't even realized he'd pressed the call button.

Somehow, perhaps subconsciously, he'd reached out.

Dokja swallowed, taking a short breath. "Sorry, I'm here" he replied, forcing calmness into his voice,

["…did something happen? Why did you call me?"] There was something urgent in Bihyung’s voice, a stark contrast to his usual irritated tone.

Dokja opened his mouth, intending to explain that he'd accidentally pressed the call button. But another impulse, a deeper, more important need, took over. He swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. "About the stuff I told to look into…about Joonghyuk, have you…have you found any…" He faltered, unable to complete the sentence.

["...No, I still haven't had any news regarding Joonghyun…"]

A wave of unexpected relief washed over Dokja. No, stop it. Why? Why did he dare feel relieved? What he needed was to be anxious and disappointed about the lack of information. And yet a part of him was still elated. If Bihyung hadn’t found anything, then that meant that a simple search on the web wouldn’t be able to do anything, right? That meant that Dokja couldn’t do anything about it. Oh well, too bad! Never mind the fact that Bihyung was only working off of Joonghyuk’s photo. Dokja never told Joonghyuk’s actual name yet, had he?

His eyes began to well up, the unshed tears threatening to spill. He bit his lip hard, stifling a sob, his body trembling slightly. He was already pathetic, vulnerable, mess.

["Oi… are you alright?"] Bihyung's voice held a note of worry, ["Did something happen?"]

Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes, threatening to spill, but he blinked rapidly. Despite Bihyung being unable to see him, Dokja shook his head, his voice slightly trembling. "N-no… I’m just… emotional… because I just got off my heat."

Bihyung remained silent for a few seconds. ["Are you sure? You know I can call your parents—"]

"No! No need for that. I’m alright."

["But—"]

"Thanks for the help Bihyung. Please call me if you end up finding anything.” With those parting words Dokja ended the call abruptly, tossing the phone across the bed.

The call left Dokja drained, as if he wasn’t already.

Again he had allowed his selfishness take over.

Why did his mind keep on letting himself down? The procrastination, the excuses, the avoidance. All they provided was temporary relief, and that relief always turned into immense guilt. This needed to stop.
How was he supposed to achieve happiness when he kept running away?

A headache settled behind Dokja’s eyes.

Ugh, why couldn’t this be simple. Why couldn’t his mind make this simple? To be able to proudly march up to Joonghyuk and demand him to please stay in his life. Just imagining himself doing that had Dokja feeling a mix of emotions, none of them any good.

Dokja curled up into himself.

…

…maybe

Just maybe…

Even when remembering the crimson spatters running down the skin and concrete like rain, and trails of nerves lighting up with pain from the tips of his fingers and toes to his very core. Even remembering the deep bruises that bloomed across his body in colors of yellow and purple, and the deep cuts between outlining the contours of his body. Even remembering the marks making a roadmap all over his body of every reason why he didn’t deserve to be alive.

Even remembering when his body, having been used as merely a prison for his mind for too long, tried uselessly to escape the grasp of his tormentors. How would a body that’s known no freedom be able to attain it in the first place? Even remembering how the concrete scraped against the bottoms of his feet, where holes had worn into his shoes and socks. As the buttons of shirt had been ripped off, leaving the top of his chest completely exposed. As he clutched his precious books in his hands as he ran, because as long as he could get lost in their words, reality didn’t have to matter. As he choked and sobbed on his own fear, contemplating giving up and handing himself over on a silver platter, because this scenario was an inevitability for people like him, and maybe he really had to get used to it anyways.

Even remembering when he didn’t hear the truck’s horns approaching him, nor did he see the headlights getting brighter. Even when he heard something break right before his body went numb as he flew through the air.

Dokja couldn’t help but think that, just maybe, things really would be simpler if everything just ended that night.

...shit, he really needed to go to sleep

Chapter Text

Chapter 29: Rescue

Again, the noisy ringing of Dokja’s phone pulled him back out into the land of the living from whatever restless stupor he’d gotten himself into. Trying to remember what direction he threw his phone after he hung up on Bihyung earlier, Dokja dazily crawled around his bed trying to feel for it. Upon contact with it cold, metal exterior, he picked up his phone to see the bright white words on screen:

Witch is calling...

Huh, Han Sooyoung? Dokja stared at the screen contemplating if he should accept the call or not. But knowing of her, she would definitely spam his phone if he didn’t pick up right now.

Very much not in the mood to pick up the call, but also not willing to deal with his phone ringing throughout the night, Dokja sighed as he accepted the call and put the phone close to his ears.

"...Hello?" He rasped out. There was no immediate answer. Instead, what Dokja heard was a bunch of shuffling and muttered curses in the background.

["Thank fucking god you picked up. Are you safe right now? I’m coming over to pick you up right now. Dammit, right after I thought we could trust him. I swear, I fucking swear if that bastard does anything else—"] Sooyoung's voice was sharp, intermittently interrupted by her own swears and rushed footsteps.

Dokja was very confused, to say the least. "Safe? What do you mean?"

Sooyoung didn't answer but the rapid footsteps came to a stop, replaced by some other unintelligible noise that Dokja couldn't parse out. ["Bihyung called me, talked about how you were in distress, and it was because of that bastard. Didn’t catch all of it, but I know the gist of it. Is that dickhead alpha still at the house with you? Sangah is sleeping right now but I could get her to come along to distract him while we get you out of there.”] Sooyoung spoke in hushed but quick sentences, impatient to get to Dokja.

"What!? No no, you have it all wrong, Joonghyuk hasn’t done anything to me. Dammit Bihyung—did he really have to call you? I was just talking about Joonghyuk to him earlier. I may have gotten a little…emotional, but that’s only because I’m coming off of my heat.”

No, Joonghyuk would never do anything to hurt him, unlike the voice inside of his mind. It was driving him crazy. It made Dokja want to crack his head open and cut out whatever infection was taking over his mind right now, and making him feel so worthless—

["Dokja? You still there?"] Whatever line of thought he was going down was thankfully cut off, with Sooyoung’s incessant voice like the slice of a knife. ["Hey, Kim Dokja!"]

"Yeah…I'm still here…" he replied, notably more despondent he was just a few moments earlier.

["Good, now tell me what’s going on. Bihyung was all freaked out when he called me and now, I’m all over the place too. If it wasn’t that alpha then what has you so upset in the first place?"]

Dokja sigh as he said "There's nothing to—" Sooyoung cut him off.

["Nope. Don’t you dare fucking give me that after you were able to scare Bihyung of all people into calling me for help. Try again, rat. We’re staying here all night if we have to.”]

Dokja bit his lower lip. Everything felt so heavy, and Dokja felt like he was suffocating under the weight of it all. Help was right here, sitting in the palm of his hand. Sooyoung would listen to him. Hell, she was practically trying to force the truth out of him right now. But all those years he spent shutting himself up were coming back to bite him in the ass. As much as he wanted to say something, he just couldn’t bring himself to.

Unconsciously, Dokja’s eyes squeezed shut and tears he didn’t know he still had pricked his eyelids. A high-pitched keening noise was coming from somewhere. It wasn’t until Sooyoung spoke again that Dokja realized it was from him.

["Dokja!"] She yelled, followed by more restless footsteps from her end of the call ["Shit! Do you need me to come there? Actually, don't answer, I'm coming there right now!"] she said and he heard the sound of jingling car keys.

Shit, no way could he let Sooyoung see him like this. Dokja quickly silenced himself, mentally chastising himself for letting the noise escape from him. “No don't! You don’t need to, really!"

["What do you mean? Just wait for me there, I’ll stay on the line with you!"] then, the sounds of a car door being opened.

"No please! I'm alright, Sooyoung."

The door was slammed shut ["Alright? Ok?!! Have you not been hearing yourself? Something’s, wrong I knew something was wrong!"] her almost manic voice was full of disbelief. ["It's about that bastard, right? Tell me, I’ll kick his ass—"]

Dokja cut her off "No, he didn't do anything, I swear!"
Sooyoung became quiet. The only thing Dokja could hear from the other side was the sound of the car’s aircon, in addition to his own frantic heartbeat.

However, he could still feel the pressure of Sooyoung’s doubt pushing him for an explanation. Every muscle in his body tensed up from the oppressive silence, and Dokja could only sit there futilely trying to think of anything to say so Sooyoung wouldn't question him anymore.

Every time a flimsy excuse or appeasement came to mind, Dokja opened his mouth to try to spit it out before quickly realizing how fake it sounded and quickly shutting up again. So, he sat there, foolishly gaping like a fish. Every second that passed felt like a bomb ticking down until Sooyoung’s patience let out, then she would start to lash out at him in a rage for his incompetence.

A small voice in the back of Dokja’s head told him that she would do no such thing and that all she wanted from him was the truth, but his own screaming anxieties were quick to relegate the thought to background noise.

Shit, fucking think of something to say you incompetent prick.

A hand flew to his mouth to stifle any sound that might betray Dokja’s distress. His heart hammered against his ribs. Shivers had begun to rack his body.

["…fuck, this is getting us nowhere."] He heard a sounds of the car’s engine being turned on.

"Please...!" He begged, his voice is horsey and deep while heavily breathing, "I'm begging.. don't come here...I can't—" his voice cracked, cutting him off. Dokja violently shook his head at the idea, and the tears started streaming from his eyes without falter. His hands aggressively tried wiping them away, but they just kept on flowing. There was a sharp suck of air from Sooyoung.

["Dokja…] she began, [“You have to work with me here, give me something to go off of. You’re telling me your fine while breaking down to tears so fucking obviously you’re not. So, you’re gonna have to either be honest with me for once or I’m going over there to see you with my own eyes. One of these is happening tonight and it’s your choice which one.”] Only firmness could be found in Sooyoung’s voice. Even if he was in a vulnerable state right now, being soft on him would just give Dokja an opening to try to talk his way out of the conversation. No pity and no excuses would be afforded to him in this moment, only the honesty that Sooyoung hoped he would reciprocate.

Dokja was still shaking his head frantically "I…I..."
He felt something inside of him break. All the stress and anxiety ballooning up inside of him, it was like all of it began to rush out.

"...I'm scared." He finally confessed to her, his voice cracking. "I-I love him." Dokja tighten his grip on the phone, trying to control himself, "But I'm scared...scared that he’s going to be just like that man."

Well then, there it was. Sooyoung was finally able to pry the truth from his stubborn lips. But now it was her turn to say something in response, something worthwhile that wasn’t just superficial reassurances. She opened her mouth to say something, but her teeth grinded together as another muffled sob came through the speaker. She closed her eyes and bonked her head against the top of the steering wheel. Damn it, it was usually Sangah’s job to give sensible advice in times like this. She was just there to give tough love and lighten up the mood afterward with a couple quips.

Time for her to step up this time, she supposed. ["That’s your fear response clouding your judgement. Joonghyun won't be like that."]

Dokja snarled "How can you be sure? You, I–We don't know him like that, he could be just faking it. Once our guard is down, he won’t hesitate to do what he wants with me. And once he has his fill, he won’t hesitate to throw be away, just like everyone else!” he ranted without pause. His voice is ragged, all of his words slurring together.

["He won't."]

"You don't know him any more than I do–" he raged.

["Your right, Dokja, I don’t. But just like every other person that’s come into your life since we’ve met, you have me and your family watching your back now. It’s not just you alone, now. It hasn’t been that way in a long time, and it won’t ever be like that again as long as we’re here, for god’s sake. Do you think we’d all just sit here and let you get hurt if it ever comes to it?"]

“I refuse to be a burden on any of you anymore than I already am. I’m an adult, I need to be able to figure these things out myself!”

[“Oh I’m sorry, a burden? Who the hell is saying you’re a burden, are they in the room with us right now, ‘cause I sure as hell didn’t. It’s our choice to stand with you, so fucking accept it already, Dokja.”] Sooyoung’s own frustrated tirade quickly shut Dokja up. ["You have to give us more credit than that, Dokja. We aren’t just here to look pretty, y’know. Hell—did you forget how this call started in the first place? I was literally fixing to go over there and kick Joonghyun’s ass myself!"]

Dokja bristled at that, a contradiction of emotions swirling through him. “Fine Sooyoung, let’s say we find out together that Joonghyuk is a piece of shit and then you use the power of friendship to kick his ass to the other side of the world. What then? I just have to accept the man I thought I loved was an abusive dirtbag and apparently I hate myself so much that I only like people that’ll hurt me.”

[Ugh, you aren’t listening to me!”] Dokja opened his mouth to argue back, but Sooyoung barreled past whatever he was going to say. [Do you want to know why I know Joonghyun won’t hurt you? Because you went through this exact same thing when Sangah approached you for the first time. Your fear was wrong then and it’s wrong now. It told you that Sangah would take any chance she could to pounce on you and mark you, but now she's one of your closest friends and coworker. Who says that it can't be the same with Joonghyun? Sangah already tells me all about the corny shit you two have going on between yourselves. The homemade lunches every day, the scenting, walking home together. I mean—it’s the cheesiest, most cliché high school romance I’ve ever heard of. I thought that that stuff was only in the books but apparently not!”]

And now Dokja had to tamp down his rising embarrassment. When she listed it out like that, well, of course it sounds so innocent, but…

[“—And that’s not even getting into the interactions I actually had with him. Did he ever tell you? He called me twice over the time that he’s known you. The first time was after your panic attack and the second time was when you went into your heat. He had all the emotional response and personality of a stone wall, but even then, he seemed pretty worried about you and wanted me to give advice on how to help you.”]

He was speechless, his gaze unfocused as he struggled to process Sooyoung's words. Joonghyuk called her? Did Joonghyuk even have her number? "Joonghyuk did that? Why would he…?”

["Because One, he wouldn’t touch a hair on your head without express permission, and Two, he’s so down bad for you that he’d probably dress up like a clown and start doing party tricks if it meant you wouldn’t be upset anymore."]

Momentarily grimacing at the mental image, Dokja adjusted his grip on his phone. “…weren’t you just talking about how you would beat him into a pulp earlier…?” his voice was still hoarse from crying, but incredulity had replaced his anxiety, so it was going down as a win in Sooyoung’s books.

[“Well when Bihyung calls me in the middle of the night of course I’m gonna assume the worst-case scenario, dummy!”] Dokja let out a wet snicker at that, wiping his eyes from the last of his tears. [Hmph, so, were you able to clear your head a bit from whatever weird mental state you got yourself into?”]

Blinking at the question, Dokja took a moment to assess himself. A heavy weight settled on his chest, yet it was different from the all-consuming darkness from before. More grounding than suffocating. His mind, previously shrouded in a fog, felt strangely lighter, as if a spell had been broken.

“…I—yeah, I think so. My head feels clear, like I can actually think straight now.”

[Good to know, now we can have an actual conversation. Based on what you said, I'm guessing that whenever you and Bihyung were on call earlier, the topic of Joonghyun must've been brought up and that's what started your spiral?"]

Dokja scrunched his eyebrows together as he thought through all the events that happened in just the past day. He'd been so in his own head that everything felt like it was blending together, and he needed to sort through his head to pinpoint what event happened when.

"Mn, not exactly. It started a while before Bihyung called, but as more time passed it just got worse and worse. I was definitely at a low by the time he called."

["Well, what about now? If I hung up right now, do you think you 'd go right back to freaking out?"]

"I..." It was a question that Dokja thought he'd be able to answer, but as he opened his mouth, he realized he didn't know what to say. He certainly felt better than before. Breathing no longer felt like a chore and his heart rate was stable. Yet, a part of him didn't want Sooyoung to leave. He wanted to bask in her company for a bit more. "I honestly don't know."

[“Cool, then I just gotta keep you company until you know for sure that you're good. So, uh, need me to keep telling you cheesy shit about your crush or whatever?”]

“No no no, that won’t be necessary—“ Sooyoung had already thoroughly flustered him earlier and she wasn’t even trying to. She would do much worse when she set her mind to purposely digging up any embarrassing things she could think of. It was Sooyoung, after all.

Though, before Dokja could finish what he was going to say, he cut himself off when an idea came to mind. He said his next words carefully. “Actually, could you tell me about how you and Sangah got together?”

There was a pause from the other side as Sooyoung was caught off guard by the request. Having to let the words process through her mind for a few seconds, she responded in confusion.

[“Eh? I mean, I don’t mind, but there wasn’t much to it. After we met through you, our personalities clashed but we begrudgingly got along since we both knew you. Over time the arguments turned into legit conversations, then to flirting. Then one night, after we all went to the bar together, I woke up in her house to freshly made breakfast in bed and her teeth marks on my ass. We officially got together from there. That’s pretty much the whole story, though, you were there for like half of it already.”]

“Well yeah, but didn’t you stress about it at all, about how your relationship with her changed or whether she would reciprocate?”

[“Hmmm, I guess there was some anxiety there. I already got so used to her company that I’m not sure what would’ve happened if she outright rejected me and said she didn’t want to hang out anymore. But honestly, I can’t say it compares to what you’re going through right now.]

“Really, that’s it? How does it not get to you?!"

[“Because I’m the hottest shit around and Sangah knew she’d be missing the chance of a lifetime if she passed up on me”] Sooyoung replied smugly. Dokja let out a frustrated noise and hung his head.

“Great. So, you’re saying that it’s just me that has to deal with all these crappy thoughts?” he bemoaned to her.

Sooyoung shrugged her shoulders helplessly at him, even though he couldn’t see her. [“Look, man, we all deal with these kinds of things differently. I couldn’t even tell you if Sangah felt the same as me throughout the whole process. And considering the things you’ve gone through, you’re bound to have some more complicated emotions about this whole thing. I can’t really tell you how to work through them—that part is up to you—all I can do is stay by your side while you figure things out and balance you out again when things get too hairy.”]

Dokja released a heavy sigh and rubbed his face. He knew that Sooyoung was right, but it still sucked to hear. That the traumatic past that he’d never asked for was still affecting him to this day.

“Work through them myself, huh? That’s what I thought I was doing earlier today, but then my mind just spiraled down a whole other line of thought that I didn’t want it to...”

[“And that’s the time to call one of us so we can tell the gremlins in your mind to get the hell out. The more you fight against the bad thoughts the stronger you’ll be against them in the future. It’s a pain to start, but I’m glad that taking the steps in the first place.”]

The way Sooyoung laid it out made it sound like he was working out a muscle, though he supposed the line of thought made sense the more he turned it over in his mind. But something else about what she just said began to bother him. Was his only option really to just call Sooyoung or any one of his other family or friends whenever he went down another spiral? With how often it happened, Dokja couldn’t help but feel like he’d just be constantly bothering them. Then, something that Sooyoung said earlier returned to the forefront of his thoughts.

["It’s our choice to stand with you, so fucking accept it already, Dokja"]

["You have to give us more credit than that, Dokja. We aren’t just here to look pretty, y’know.]

“Hey, Sooyoung?” The woman gave an inquisitive hum. She was starting to sound tired, so he’d try to wrap up the conversation. “About what you mentioned earlier…are you really that bothered I’m not calling you for help all the time? Wouldn’t you just be annoyed at it?”

Sooyoung let out an annoyed huff. [“It’s not that we expect you to call us for every minor inconvenience that you have. It’s just that you keep away all the actually important things from us, y’know? The stuff that you freak the hell out about and then spiral down into mental episodes. Then lo and behold, this random amnesiac alpha rolls into your life and then you’re leaning on him more than you’ve ever let yourself rely on the rest of us. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing that you found someone to trust wholly, but sometimes I wonder if here’s anything the rest of us could do to get you to open up to us like that.”]

And, ouch, when she put it like that Dokja couldn’t help but wince. The worst part was that she didn’t even sound upset, just accepting and tired.

“Well, damn Sooyoung, I didn’t know that how you felt." Dokja scratched his cheek self-consciously. He had heard his parents and other people in his life espousing similar statements about how they wanted Dokja to rely on them more. He hadn't taken them too seriously when they mentioned it, just thinking it was more of an offhand comment than anything. He wondered if they all really felt as strongly about this as Sooyoung did. "I guess that’s one more thing for me to work on.”

[“Ha, well, don’t let it affect you too much. I’m not trying to add another thing on your already giant list of things to stress over.”]

“Right. Then I’ll just work at one thing at a time, and I’ll figure it out eventually…?” Dokja said, ending on an unsure note. But Sooyoung seemed to be satisfied by it.

[“I’d appreciate if you did. Genuinely. Though hopefully it happens sooner rather than later. And about the whole Joonghyun situation, if my own two cents means anything to you: I’m pretty sure he already wants to belong to you. So much that wherever ‘he belongs’ in the first place isn’t even at the forefront of his mind anymore. You have a pretty good catch on your hands, and it’s up to you to reel him in now.”]

Belong to him? For Joonghyuk to truly belong to him, and him alone? The idea warmed him on the inside, making his omega purr. It was something he wanted to make reality.

"I will. And… thank you," Dokja replied, his voice still soft but stronger, steadier.

["Well, I’m not Sangah when it comes to giving good advice, but I hope you know I’m not just here for the fun days either,"] Sooyoung said, her energy noticeably revitalized. ["With all that aside, it’s about time we meet this guy already. Let's go out for barbecue!"] she cheered. Dokja could see her arms rise in the air in celebration. ["And don't even think about wimping out of this one. Sangah already told me you have a day off next week."] Her playful tone didn’t mask the underlying firmness of her invitation.

Dokja smiled, a genuine one that reached his eyes. "Alright, it sounds like a plan."

["That's settled then, but… you sure you're alright now? If you want, I can still drive over there."]

"No need," Dokja calmly assured her, honestly this time. "I'm alright. It’s about time I go to sleep anyways, and now I know I won’t wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat.”

He heard Sooyoung sigh in both relief and lingering concern. ["Alright, I'll go now. Just remember I’m a call away if anything else happens."]

"I know, bye now, goodnight," Dokja replied, a hint of sleepiness in his voice.

["Goodnight,"] Sooyoung echoed, and then the line went dead. Dokja, finally alone again, felt a measure of peace he hadn't anticipated. The weight on his chest was still there, but it was lighter now, bearable. Talking to Sooyoung had been unexpectedly helpful. He was used to stewing in his thoughts alone, but he was grateful for her call. If she hadn't reached out, he didn't want to contemplate the potential consequences. He sighed, undoing the top buttons of his shirt in preparation for a shower. After everything he'd been through, there was no way he was jumping into bed (his nest) in dirty clothes.

Just as he was about to head to the bathroom, a knock sounded at his door. He turned his attention to the interruption. "Dokja? Are you still awake?" It was Joonghyuk's voice.

Dokja hesitated, debating whether to feign sleep or answer. He glanced around, lost in thought for a moment before deciding. "I'm still up. Did you need something?" he replied.

"Could you open the door for me?"

Dokja was puzzled, but after taking a deep breath and shaking the exhaustion from his limbs, he walked over to open his bedroom door. There stood Joonghyuk, holding a tray laden with food: a plate of pasta, a glass of water, and a cupcake perched on the side. "Hm? Isn’t it a bit late for a meal?" Dokja asked, his gaze fixed on the tray, avoiding Joonghyuk's eyes. He knew that if he looked up, the other man would see the redness around his eyes.

"No, not when you still haven't eaten dinner," Joonghyuk replied with little pause.

Dokja's eyebrows quirked up. "I'm not hungry, Joonghyuk-ah. I told you I already had a company dinner."

But the alpha shook his head. "We both know that’s not true, Dokja.”

Dokja fell silent. He watched as Joonghyuk placed the tray on the side table, then gently lifted his chin, forcing their eyes to meet. But Dokja’s gaze darted away, avoiding the other man's intense scrutiny.
Dokja offered a weak smile. "Well, maybe you’re right. But I really wasn’t hungry."

"Just because you're not hungry doesn't mean you can skip dinner like that," Joonghyuk countered, his hand lingering on Dokja's chin. His brow furrowed as he noticed the telltale signs of recent tears: the dryness around Dokja's eyes, the faint redness of his skin. Gently, he cupped Dokja's cheek, his thumb following the dried tear tracks up Dokja’s face. He wiped away the corner of Dokja's eyes. "You've been crying…?" he asked, his gaze searching Dokja's face. Dokja continued to avoid his eyes. "Kim Dokja, look at me. Please?"

Dokja offered a small, strained smile, gently placing his hand over Joonghyuk's on his cheek. This time, he reciprocated Joonghyuk's stare. "Sorry, Joonghyuk-ah, a lot has been on my mind lately. Honestly, I don’t really want to talk about it.”

"But—" Joonghyuk started to protest.

Dokja's eyes pleaded with him. "Joonghyuk-ah… please, I can’t. At least, not right now."

His brow twitched in frustration, wanting to find out what was bothering Dokja so much but also wanting to respect his space. So instead of arguing back, he sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Alright." he conceded. Dokja smiled, relieved—until Joonghyuk's next words struck him like a bolt of lightning. "But won’t you sleep with me tonight?"

Dokja’s mind momentarily short-circuited. He blinked, processing the unexpected statement. He hadn’t misheard, had he? Joonghyuk hadn’t actually… said that? He felt a wave of confusion, his heart thudding erratically. "What…?" he asked, his voice a breathy whisper.

A heavy silence descended, punctuated only by the sound of Dokja's own racing heartbeat. And Joonghyuk was just standing there, waiting expectantly for his answer. Thankfully, something on Dokja’s face must’ve revealed his thought process, because Dokja could pinpoint almost the exact second that realization dawned on Joonghyuk. The alpha blinked, as if reeling from his own words, and his mouth opened and closed several times before he found the words. "I— No, I don't mean like that. I meant… sleep…in the same bed…" The explanation was stammered, rushed, and tinged with embarrassment.

Dokja blinked rapidly, his heart rate slowing back to normal. "Right! Of course that’s what you meant, haha…Um, but why?" he asked, genuine confusion coloring his voice. He still didn’t fully understand.

Joonghyuk ran a hand over his forehead, his expression softening. "I can see how stressed you are. I saw earlier too, when you had just come home. I don't want to leave you alone tonight."

Dokja attempted to wave off his concern. "Joonghyuk-ah, I'm not fragile. I'll be alright. Everyone has bad days here and there."

Joonghyuk shook his head, his voice low. "I know, but I want to be there if you get another nightmare, or if you have another panic attack.”

Dokja stared, mesmerized by the intensity of Joonghyuk's gaze. The other man's eyes held a depth of concern and affection that resonated deeply within him. His own inner turmoil was a stark contrast to the calm assurance in Joonghyuk's eyes. A wave of shame washed over him; he felt foolish for having ever entertained the thought of Joonghyuk being anything like his father. Joonghyuk's actions, his words, spoke volumes as a testament to the genuine care and affection he felt for Dokja.

He hadn't even realized he had yet to respond: "O-Oh, then…just let me take a shower really quickly. I'll head over to your room afterward." The words tumbled out, with Dokja surprised at how quickly he’d agreed.

Joonghyuk rewarded him with a small smile. "Alright. I'll be waiting. I’ll take the tray with me too, so I can be sure that you actually eat everything afterward.” He picked up the tray, pausing at the doorway to give Dokja one last look, before making his way down the hall and into his own room.

Dokja remained where he was, staring at the now empty doorway. The warmth of Joonghyuk's concern lingered like a comforting blanket.

From that moment Dokja already knew that he was already too in love with Joonghyuk to even think of telling himself otherwise.

Chapter Text

Chapter 30: Fake Mask

Dokja stood before Joonghyuk's door, his hand hovering over the knob. His gaze flickered between the door and his own room, indecision warring within him. Shifting from one foot to another, his outreached hand twitched with indecision, before Dokja sighed at his own ridiculous overthinking before turning the knob and stepping inside.

Joonghyuk was sitting on the bed, tapping away at what was probably another phone game of his. He didn't look up, though upon hearing Dokja enter he tilted his head to the small desk sat right beside the bed, where the tray of food he had brought earlier sat. The pasta was still steaming, surprisingly enough. Joonghyuk must’ve warmed it up before Dokja came back from his shower. "Your food is there, go ahead and eat it while it’s still warm."

"Ah… yeah…" Dokja mumbled, his movements slightly awkward as he walked to the table and sat down.

Picking up the fork, he scooped a good amount of noodles started to dig in. The pasta was delicious, undoubtedly Joonghyuk's cooking, but Dokja found it difficult to fully appreciate the meal. Honestly, he still didn’t feel all that hungry. While the warm shower had slightly reinvigorated his appetite, exhaustion was still at the forefront of his mind. If Joonghyuk hadn't insisted he come to his room, he would have likely skipped dinner altogether, succumbing to sleep instead of attending to his rumbling stomach.

Even so, the silence that accompanied Dokja’s meal was comforting. The only sounds were the gentle clinking of his utensils against the plate and the occasional tap-tap-tap of Joonghyuk's phone game. Joonghyuk remained quiet, offering no unwanted words. Just as Joonghyuk himself, his pheromones provided a subtle comfort as it lingered in the air, putting Dokja’s buzzing mind at ease.

Finishing the plate, Dokja reached for the cupcake, its white frosting a pristine contrast to the deep red of the cake beneath. He took a bite, a small hum escaping his lips as the sweetness met his taste buds.
"Is it good?" Joonghyuk asked, his first words since Dokja began eating.

Dokja nodded eagerly, his eyes meeting Joonghyuk's for a brief moment before returning to his dessert. Joonghyuk, though still focused on his phone, leaned slightly toward him. "Yeah, it's really good!" Dokja confirmed, taking another bite to affirm his point.

Joonghyuk smiled back, a quiet satisfaction evident in his expression. "I'm glad," he murmured, his fingers continuing their rhythmic tapping on the screen. "It was Mia’s idea to make them, she helped me with making the frosting earlier today."

"Really…?"

Joonghyuk nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Even with how stubborn she was when demanding she’d said she would live with me—or rather, us—it wasn’t even that long until she began getting bored. Those two other children weren’t here, and there wasn’t much in the house to occupy a young girl like her." He said wearily. “Then she saw me begin prepping dinner, and asked if we could bake something together. Apparently, it was something I mainly did for special occasions. Mia said I would never let her help since I was scared she’d get hurt with how young she was.”

Dokja's hummed at Joonghyuk’s words, a vivid picture forming in his mind: a domestic scene of Joonghyuk and Mia in the kitchen, Joonghyuk gently instructing Mia about how to measure out the ingredients and mix them together, and Mia probably having to stand on a stool to reach all the ingredients on the counter. Maybe they talked about the memories that Joonghyuk forgot, or maybe they talked about their simpler day-to-day lives. He quietly wondered to himself if he’d be able to fit himself into that scene one day.

"I didn't even know you could bake," Dokja said, in a conscious effort to redirect his thoughts.

Joonghyuk chuckled. "Me neither, to be honest. I was all for it when Mia mentioned it to me, even when I wasn’t sure about if I’d even be able to do it. But once we were in the kitchen, everything just… fell into place." He closed his phone, turning his full attention to Dokja. "It was my first time baking… well, since I lost my memories, but I'm glad you liked it." A proud grin lit up his face.

Dokja found himself captivated by Joonghyuk's smile, a warmth spreading through his chest that made his heart race. His cheeks flushed, feeling hot and exposed, so he quickly diverted his gaze back to the cupcake, taking another bite. But even the sweetness of the frosting couldn’t entirely mask the flustered feeling. "By the way," he asked, his voice slightly breathless, "Since Mia is staying here for the time being, she probably had to tell whatever relatives or caretakers that she has that she found you right? Have you been able to reach out to each other and talk?"

Whatever enthusiasm Joonghyuk had shown in the conversation up to this point was quickly wiped away. Now, it was replaced with stoicism. He shook his head, scooting closer to Dokja on the bed. "No, the opposite, actually."

Dokja paused mid-bite, the cupcake halfway to his mouth. "Eh? What do you mean by that? Wouldn’t Mia want to tell them, or how about that weird bodyguard guy that was with her?" He felt a prickle of unease.

Joonghyuk sat up, moving to sit on the edge of the bed to fully face Dokja. "Neither of them trust the family to have a cordial reaction to my return. Apparently, there’s quite a messy feud that started before my disappearance. I haven’t been able to figure out all the details just yet, but I’m working out the details for when I see them again.” For when he sees them again, Joonghyuk didn’t say for when he returns to them, Dokja’s mind whispered to him. He waved the thought away as fast as he could. “My so-called relatives don't know Mia's with me, or even that I’ve been found in the first place. Mia says that she was able to convince her uncle—our uncle, I suppose—that she was staying at Gilyeong’s for the time being. Apparently, she made her uncle drive her to the kid’s house under the pretense of staying there for a bit, then told the boy’s mom that she’d just be there for a sleepover before going home. After staying the night, she went straight to this house."

Pushing the now-empty tray of food away from himself, Dokja’s confusion deepened. "Huh? So basically, Mia was able to dupe her uncle and Gilyeoung’s mom?" Joonghyuk’s silent nod only served to amplify his bewilderment. Leaning back in his chair, Dokja murmured, "Unbelievable…" Dokja opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again, unsure where to begin. The thought of Mia’s uncle discovering she was staying with a virtual stranger sent a shiver down his spine. "I can already feel like your younger sister is a troublemaker…" he said, a wry smile playing on his lips despite the underlying concern.

Joonghyuk crossed his arms, a chuckle escaping him. "You just thought that now?" he teased, though internally, he was still reeling from the events of earlier that day. The image of Mia standing on his doorstep with an oversized suitcase, declaring her intention to move in with the simple statement, "They're all annoying, so I'm living with you now," remained vividly etched in his mind. He'd been utterly dumbfounded in the face of her unexpected arrival.

Dokja chuckled, a light sound that eased the tension slightly. "Maybe she gets that from you," he teased.

Joonghyuk offered a quiet, almost sheepish, "Maybe…"

The conversation lulled to a pause. Dokja’s gaze drifted to the balcony window for a moment, a fleeting memory sparking in his mind. He turned back to Joonghyuk, noticing the intense, unreadable expression in his eyes. Shaking his head slightly, he asked, "Joonghyuk-ah…even if the situation is all messy, you’re going to go back to your family eventually, right? Don’t you want to go back to them, to see all the people you’ve forgotten." The question hung in the air, laced with quiet urgency. He needed to understand—to understand with Joonghyuk remained here, with him, seemingly detached from his past.

Joonghyuk didn’t answer immediately, his mind going back to the warnings that he had been given by Mia’s bodyguard, and to all the red flags that had been displayed by this family of his thus far. The possibility that they could’ve been the ones to attack him in the first place and now eyeing his position in the company like sharks in bloodied waters. Whoever this family of his was, Mia couldn’t tolerate them to the point of tricking them to get away from her home.

Protecting Mia was his only reason to go back. But Mia was with him now, she was safe.

But, of course, his reason for staying here…

"Do you really want to know…?" he asked, letting the question hanging between them.

Dokja met his gaze, the dark depths of Joonghyuk’s eyes drawing him in. But as the moonlight touched Joonghyuk’s face, a flash of gold in those dark eyes caught his attention, a mesmerizing shimmer that momentarily stole his breath. A slight movement, a flicker of expression, could break the spell. Dokja swallowed, the tension thick in the air. His voice, when it finally came, was stronger than before.

"Yes… I want to know."

Joonghyuk’s gaze remained locked on Dokja. His attention lingered on the details: soft, dark hair, pale skin—fairer than Snow White, he mused—the sharp angles of his nose and brows, the full, lustrous lips that seemed to shimmer with an unseen gloss, the blush creeping across his cheeks, and finally, the shining, captivating eyes that held a universe of untold stories. He wanted to trace the line of Dokja’s jaw, feel the softness of his hair, the warmth of his skin. The urge to gently pinch those rosy cheeks was almost overwhelming. "Are you sure you’re able handle my answer?” he finally asked.

Dokja clenched his fists, a knot of apprehension tightening in his stomach. There was something in Joonghyuk’s question, a subtle hint of danger, a suggestion that the truth might shatter him.

Impatience warred with fear—the fear of hearing an answer that contradicted the hope blossoming in his heart. But the need to know, to understand, outweighed his apprehension. He nodded, the single word carrying the weight of his vulnerability. "Yes."

Holding Dokja’s gaze for just a second longer, Joonghyuk looked away, his expression unreadable. Then, his hand reached out, gently enfolding Dokja’s. His touch was feather-light, reverent, as if cradling something infinitely precious and fragile. Dokja stared, mesmerized, breath catching in his throat.

"Why would I want to go back," he said, his voice soft yet resonant. "when you’re right here?"

…

Elation

That was the only word for the feeling that passed through Dokja’s entire body.

The feeling burst from his stomach. Dokja could feel his inner omega practically bouncing off the walls in excitement, like a feral cat after its owner has returned home. The remnants of apprehension lingering in his fingers and toes turned into pure adrenaline. He felt like he needed to do…something with his body. Jump up and down for joy, run laps around the house, hell, even slap himself to see if he had really heard Joonghyuk right. Dokja had to bite the side of his cheek to stop a stupidly wide grin from stretching across his face.

He opened his mouth to speak, to ask the questions swirling in his mind—why was he the reason? Was something –someone—as simple as him really enough to stop Joonghyuk return to his family? A selfish desire to keep Joonghyuk all to himself battled with a pang of guilt. He wanted to feel sympathy for Joonghyuk's relatives, yet the thought of letting go felt like a physical pain. He started to speak again, but before any words escaped, a sharp ring sliced through the air.

Dokja flinched, looking away as Joonghyuk stood, reaching for his phone on the nightstand. He sighed, the sound heavy with apology. "Sorry, it's my alarm."

Dokja quickly composed himself, taking a breather before turning his attention back to Joonghyuk. "Why would you have an alarm for…10 pm?" he asked, glancing at the time on his own phone.

Joonghyuk waved his phone dismissively. "Reminder to sleep," he said, nodding to Dokja’s empty tray of food, “Now that you’re done, it's time for bed." He began shuffling to the other side of the mattress, making room for Dokja to climb on in.

Dokja nodded, but then his phone buzzed with a notification.

One that he'd been waiting for all week.

His lips parted slightly as he picked up his phone, his eyes meeting Joonghyuk's questioning gaze. "What is it?" Joonghyuk asked, though the tone that he used suggested that he already had an inkling of an answer which left Dokja feeling slightly cornered.

"It's… uh…" Dokja stammered, caught between wanting to open his phone and the clear message in Joonghyuk's eyes that it was time to sleep. He was exhausted, he truly was, but… come on, he had to.

Joonghyuk's eyes narrowed, his tone hardening. "Kim Dokja…"

Dokja looked away, avoiding Joonghyuk's intense gaze. He swallowed hard, the dryness in his throat mirroring the desperation in his voice. "It'sanotificationforTheWorldAftertheFall. Ihavetoreadit!" he blurted out, already anticipating Joonghyuk's response.

"No," Joonghyuk plainly stated, with no room for argument.

Joonghyuk walked closer, his hand outstretched. "Hand it over," he said, his eyes fixed on the phone clutched tightly in Dokja's hands.

Dokja's lower lip jutted out in a pout. "But… Joonghyuk-ah… please! Just let me read it, I swear! It's just one chapter!" he pleaded.

Joonghyuk raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "No, Kim Dokja. You need to sleep. You said yourself you were tired, remember? So sleep." He reached for the phone again, but Dokja held onto it stubbornly.

"Joonghyuk-ah, please…" Dokja pleaded, his eyes wide and pleading. Dokja looked undeniably cute, it was almost unfair. Despite the wave of affection washing over him, he knew Dokja needed rest. He shook his head gently. "Dokja, it's already 10 pm, and you have work tomorrow. You can't."

"But… but…" Dokja protested weakly.

"No buts," Joonghyuk put his foot down. He coerced the phone from Dokja's grasp, then took hold of his wrist. "We’re going to sleep."

Dokja continued to pout even as they settled into bed, the expression almost making Joonghyuk relent. But Dokja was exhausted and needed sleep more than a web novel update. He carefully pulled the blanket over Dokja, tucking it around him. "Quit with the pouting, Dokja, and close your eyes."

Dokja, still pouting slightly just to spite him, closed his eyes. Joonghyuk stood up to switch off the main lights by the door, then returned to lie beside Dokja. He watched Dokja for a moment, his eyes still closed. "Do you want me to leave the lamp on or turn it off?" he asked softly.

A sleepy murmur came from Dokja. "I'm alright with either…"

Joonghyuk nodded, switching off the lamp. He lay down beside Dokja, closing his eyes, the soft rhythm of Dokja's breathing filling the quiet room.

Sorting through the clothes that had been carelessly thrown onto the floor from their earlier activities, Minji got dressed, relieved that hers hadn’t gotten too wrinkled. All the while, a heady scent lingered heavily in the air, both of their pheromones mixing with Ha-eun’s strong perfume. It was only as she was buttoning up her dress shirt when Ha-eun stirred awake. She murmured a sleepy greeting to Minji, but upon realizing that the other woman putting on her clothes, she sat up, the blanket barely covering herself.

"Are you really leaving already?" she asked, her hoarse but pleading.

Minji didn't look up, her movements focused on pulling on her coat. "Yes," she replied, her tone clipped. "I have a lot to do."

Ha-eun's eyes, sharp and knowing, followed Minji's every move. Without bothering to retrieve the blanket that had slipped from her body—the two of them were long since being shy around each other—she stood and moved to Minji, wrapping her arms around her from behind. "Why can't you stay for the night?" she whispered, her breath warm against Minji's neck.

Minji hesitated, letting the silence stretch before replying, "You know I want to, but I really can't."

"Is it because of your father?" The question hung between them. Minji's lack of denial was enough to answer it. Ha-eun offered a bitter smile. "I don’t know why you still let him lead you around like that. From the last time I saw him, he made it pretty clear he’d rather see the both of us dead in a ditch then together with each other. Are you really prioritizing him of all people over me?”

Minji didn’t hesitate to turn around, properly facing Ha-eun and putting her hand on the other woman’s hips. "Of course not, I would never.," she said, a hint of defiance in her voice. "He can't do anything about what I want, and the only thing I want is to be with you" She pulled Ha-eun into a hug, her embrace both comforting and fierce. "Besides, it's just a matter of time before hell claims him." The words, though harsh, held a strange comfort for Ha-eun.

"Then why don’t we give that old man what’s he’s asking for already, just him a little push so we don’t have to keep being threatened like this until he finally decides to kneel over," Ha-eun suggested, the giddy smile overtaking her face a stark contrast to the desperation coloring her voice, sending a shiver down Minji's spine. There was a darkness lurking there that she had never seen before. "Minji-ah, the throne was always meant for you, after all these years that you’ve worked for it, and after everything that you’ve had to go through. That position… it's yours."

"Ha-eun…" Minji breathed, the name a soft protest against the turn of the conversation.

"Can't you see? Everything happening right now, it's in our favor," Ha-eun insisted, tightening her embrace. "That brat is out of the picture. You're the oldest sibling. Once your father kneels over, his position and everything else will fall to you."

Minji stared at Ha-eun, shocked at what had just been implied. Ha-eun's eyes, previously sharp and calculating, widened in sudden realization, her smile faltering. She quickly released Minji from her embrace. "I-I'm sorry," she stammered, her voice barely a whisper. "Why did I even say that…" Regret and a fear clouded her features.

Minji, still reeling from Ha-eun's earlier words, pulled her back into a hug. "N-No, I'm sorry too. The stress of everything is just getting to the both of us, isn’t it," Minji murmured, though she wasn’t sure if she was trying to reassure Ha-eun or convince herself of it.

Ha-eun's body trembled against hers. "It's just that—everything is so overwhelming," Ha-eun confessed, tears streaming down her face. "I… I'm scared. Right now, your father has all the power and resources at his disposal, and what do I have? Not once has he hesitated to say how much he despises me. It won’t be long until…until he'll order someone to kill me…" Ha-eun words started small, hesitant, but as she continued her low mutter transitioned in into frantic rambling, punctuated with erratic hand gestures.

Minji caught Ha-eun’s flailing hands in her own, massaging her palms to soothe the shakiness in her hands that Minji hand noticed until she grabbed them. Ha-eun quieted down, anxiety still present in her eyes but still watching Minji’s ministrations as her breathing calmed. When the shaking stopped, Minji traced her hands up Ha-eun’s body, until she was running her fingers through her locks. "It's alright, I'm here. Call it the last fragments of his sensibility or maybe it’s just pity, but so long as Father still thinks he can use me, he won’t do anything to risk his hold over me." she whispered, releasing trace amount of her pheromones to soothe Ha-eun's racing heart. "I won't let him nor anyone else so much as touch you." Cupping Ha-eun's face in her hands, she used her thumb to gently wipe away the tears. "We still have to get married, alright?"

Ha-eun, still tearful, nodded her head against Minji's shoulder. "Yeah…" she whispered, clinging to Minji like a child seeking solace.

Minji held her close, a dangerous glint flickering in her eyes. "Everything is going to be alright, Ha-eun. I'm going to make sure of that." Her voice was low and resolute. "If my father doesn't approve… so be it. We will get married no matter what." The thought of defying her father, even to the point of violence, to be with Ha-eun, filled her with a grim satisfaction. We’ll get married, she thought, no matter what.

In her determination, she didn’t notice how Ha-eun buried her face in her shoulder to smother down her growing smirk.

Meanwhile, in Japan, a woman with brown, mid-length hair and bangs sat before a floating blue screen.

Rather than images, it was filled with a constant stream of text—a novel-like transcription of every word and action of numerous different characters.
Watching the screen intently, an eyebrow arched in amusement as she read the final words of Ha-eun and Minji’s section. A soft chuckle escaped her lips. She leaned back, sighing contentedly, before turning her gaze to the window.

With those words, there would be no changing the course of events for the story now. It was set to go on its proper course, whether the characters were ready for it or not.

Chapter Text

Chapter 31: Spending Time

Heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway, heading in the opposite direction of the more light-footed and rushed footsteps around him. Maids scurried past, their eyes downcast, hastily retreating from a room at the hallway's end. Joonghyuk paid them no mind, even as the maids still had the curtesy to bowed to him before rushing off to get as far away from the area as they could. From within the room, the sounds of hysterics reached his ears, followed the sudden sound of shattered glass and a delicate whimper.

Joonghyuk allowed himself a moment to take an exhausted breath before he opened the door, revealing a woman in a white nightgown shouting at a terrified maid.

The bedroom was a disaster, to say the least. The bed, wardrobe, nightstands, tables, and everything else looked like it had been ransacked and overturned. Blankets and clothes laid all over the floor, along with the many other personal belongings that were mindlessly thrown about. If Joonghyuk didn’t already know what happened, he would’ve guessed that someone had trapped a wild bear in the room and let it wreak havoc for the past day or so. The most alarming detail was all the shards on the floor, a mix of glass, porcelain from random vases, and even pieces of the vanity’s broken mirror.

Joonghyuk only had a second to take it all in before the screaming started up again.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN MY MEDICINE IS MISSING?!" the woman shrieked, her hair a tangled mess, her eyes bloodshot with rage. The maid, on the verge of tears, could barely stammer a reply.

"I-I'm so s-sorry, ma’am… I've looked everywhere…"

"WELL TRY AGAIN! I HAD DAYS WORTH OF DOSES LEFT, I KNOW IT" the woman screamed in her face. The maid recoiled, flinching at the outburst.

The maid whimpered. There was no telling just how long the poor girl had been here, dealing with this situation, and it looked like she was reaching her breaking point. Her chest heaved and stuttered as she started breaking down into tears, trying fruitlessly to control her breathing. "I-I'm really s-s-sorry, b-but I w-won't find it even if I try again! T-The others and I-I have looked everywhere in here a-at three times, even the extra supplies, b-but - AHH!" Her words were cut short as the woman violently grabbed her hair.

"ARE YOU CALLING ME A LIAR!?!" the woman roared, her grip tightening. Tears streamed down the maid's face as she struggled against the woman's hold. A sharp cry escaped her lips as the woman dragged her towards the broken glass scattered on the floor, shoving her face dangerously close to the jagged edges.

"See these?" the woman hissed, her eyes piercing through the cowering maid. "If you don't find my medicine in the next ten minutes, I will make sure your face is unrecognizable."

"Am I clear?!" she added, her voice dripping with malice, The maid couldn’t answer, struggling to even get a breath in as her entire mind was overtaken by fear and panic. She flinched, letting out a cry of terror as the woman shoved her face even closer to the broken glass.

"I SAID, AM I CLEAR?!" the woman roared again.
The maid nodded frantically, tears streaming down her face.

"Yes! Yes! Please, please don't hurt me!" she sobbed, the words tumbling out in a desperate plea.
The woman listened to the maid's terrified whimpers for a moment, a cruel satisfaction flickering in her eyes as she seemed to savor the woman's fear. Then, with a sudden, brutal shove, she flung the maid away from the broken glass. The maid's forehead slammed against corner of the bed frame with a painful thump as wood and bone impacted on another.

The maid nearly crumpled on herself upon the impact, searing pain shooting through her head. Her body slumped over on the floor, and she put her head in her hands, trying to will away the sting.

But her employer did not have any mercy for her, impatiently shifted her weight. "Are you going to lie there all day? Do your job!" She snatched up a perfume bottle and hurled it at the maid. It barely missed.

"Y-yes… yes!" the maid stammered, scrambling to her feet and going over to search through the room again.
The maid's hands trembled as she frantically searched through each cabinet, her movements jerky and desperate. But the medicine was nowhere to be found, of course it wasn’t.

Just then, two strong, steady knocks rang out against the door. Joonghyuk, who had been observing the entire scene silently, finally made his presence known to the two women.

Turning toward the noise, the maid jolted when she spotted the young master standing in the doorway, straightening up. A silent prayer escaped her lips as she bowed low, her voice barely a whisper. "Good afternoon, Young Master… Joonghyuk…" The name itself was fraught with tension. She found herself looking back and forth between the room’s two occupants, knowing that it was never a good idea for these two to be in the same space.

“My, my, what have I done for Father to send his favorite little soldier to grace me with his presence?" the woman drawled, mockingly.

Joonghyuk's gaze was cold and assessing as he met her eyes. " Mother," he said, the word clipped. His mother's eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly at his tone, a reaction he noted without comment. "I was informed of the situation by the head maid and came here of my own volition," he stated, his eyes sweeping over the chaotic scene—the shattered windows, the broken glass and scattered wine bottles, the wine staining the expensive carpet, the broken furniture, the ruined vases and paintings. His gaze fell upon the maid, who flinched and looked down under his scrutiny. He turned back to his mother. "It didn’t seem like your maids could be of any more service to you. I’ve come to take their place and lend you assistance in any other tasks you require."

His mother glared at him, a simmering rage in her eyes. Rising to her feet, she advanced towards him. "I don't require your assistance," she spat, her voice sharp and brittle. "My maid is quite capable of handling this. I would advise you to mind your own business."

"Capable?" Joonghyuk echoed, raising a skeptical eyebrow. His gaze shifted to the maid, a slow, deliberate scan that left her increasingly uncomfortable. She lowered her head further, unable to meet his intense stare. He then turned his attention back to his mother. "From how much you scream at them, I have a hard time believing that they meet any of your absurd requests," he stated flatly. "Though I should be thankful for them for being an outlet for your abuse. Without them, you’d be taking it all out on me, the useless mother that you are."

The woman's eyes widened in fury. With a stinging slap, she struck Joonghyuk across the face. The maid gasped softly at the sound of the impact, despite the growing bruise on her own head. "Shut your mouth," she hissed, her voice dangerously low. "Don't lecture your mother when you know nothing about this family. Your head is filled with nothing but what that old man has taught you to be—his puppet."

Joonghyuk glared back, his eyes blazing with anger. "Don't speak of him in that manner," he spat. "He has done more for me than you ever could. He gave me everything a parent should—everything you failed to provide. You are nothing but a sick joke to this family."

She stared at him, a mocking laughter escaping her lips—a sound that echoed through the damaged room. Shaking her head, she placed her hands on her hips, her expression one of utter disdain. Then, her attention returned to him. "Oh, you really don't know, do you?"

Joonghyuk clenched his jaw, not responding.

"Have whatever opinion of me you want. But at least I'm honest in my resentment of you. Unlike your precious family, especially your grandfather. Are you so certain they’ll still be by your side, even once they’ve squeezed out all the value you have to offer?"

A low chuckle escaped the woman's lips as she saw the uncertainty flicker on Joonghyuk's face, even as if was wiped away as fast as it had appeared "See?" she taunted. "You can't answer surely even after all this time" She regarded him with a condescending gaze, the image of a sad puppy flashing across her mind. " You're nothing but a puppet, Joonghyuk. A mindless puppet dancing to the tune of this family."

"Shut up," Joonghyuk bit out.

"Oh, should I?" his mother retorted, a wild look in her eyes. "You're the one who barged into my room uninvited."

"Uninvited? Do I need to knock politely on the door of a raving lunatic?" Joonghyuk countered, his anger escalating. "Let's say I know nothing. It doesn't change the fact that you're the one tearing this family apart."

Her eyes blazed with fury, her gaze burning into him. "Me, tearing this family apart?" she snarled, her voice thick with bitter resentment. "Do you even realize what they did to me? How they destroyed my life?!" she yelled, the words a raw, ragged scream. "I would’ve been a doctor, saving the lives of people that actually deserve help in this disgusting, filthy mess of a world. But no, a child was thrust onto me. And now you’re here. And that’s why I’m here, rotting away in these four walls, that’s why we’re being consumed alive by this gluttonous family of ours, and that’s why we’ll deserve every agonizing moment of our useless lives!" She gasped, her breath coming in ragged bursts as the force of her desperation threatened to overwhelm her. The maid, sensing the woman's distress, made a move to approach, but was met with a sharp, angry slap. The woman's eyes, still locked onto Joonghyuk’s—eyes that were so sickeningly familiar—burned with hatred.

Without looking, she picked up whatever object happened to be near her and hurled it at his face.

"All of you… all of you destroyed my life!" she shrieked.

..

..

..

Crimson creeped outward, spreading itself all over the formerly white dress. The soaked cloth clung to a sallow figure, chest and arms revealed to be nothing but skin and bones. Even during her hysterics, one could see what a beautiful woman laid dormant beneath the rage. But none of it could be seen now.

Gone was the humanity that once made up her anger, and all that was left in its place was primal desperation, like a rabid dog backed up into a corner. Unkempt and tangled hair bunched up around her shoulders, the ends clumped with blood. There was a dull glint in her eyes, she panted in short bursts.

A knife was clutched tightly in her hand. From the crib in the corner, the cries of a baby echoed, begging for the comfort of a mother. Yet, the woman's eyes remained fixed on Joonghyuk, waiting for what he would do.

.

.

.

A chill permeated through his hands, a tremor running through them that he couldn't quite explain. His fingers twitched, instinctually longing to have something within their grip. Something hefty, metallic. Knife or gun, it didn’t matter which one. Either way he felt defenseless without anything, almost naked. How had that happened, that utter dependency he had on them now. Everything around him was blurry, details muddled into an indecipherable portrait stained in red. There were people—or at least shapes that vaguely resembled people—but the individual faces were rendered indistinct.

.

.

"You're a pest of this family"

.

.

.

"This family," she hissed, her voice raspy, "is stained crimson red, generation after generation. Even if you share the same blood… don't trust them… Yoo Joonghyuk"

.

.

Joonghyuk's eyes snapped open, his breath ragged and shallow. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead as he stared at the ceiling, his heart still pounding from what he just saw. Crimson, no, there was no more violent crimson to be found here. Instead, the familiar tones of white and beige filled his sight. He was here, in his bedroom. Not wherever…that was. No screaming either, just the muted sound of early morning and his own breathing, which was getting progressively calmer as he observed the room around him. The enticing warmth of the thick comforter drove away any lingering chill in his body from the dream. Joonghyuk looked over at the alarm clock.

6:00 am

Well, he was already awake, plus, he needed to make lunch for Dokja and now Mia. This would be the first time Joonghyuk was seeing his sister off to school since his memory loss, he had to go all out for the food today, lest he want to let Mia down. Cooking was always a good way to get his mind off of things, maybe he’d be able to get away from that crazy dream of his for a bit. Savoring the warmth of the bed for a bit longer before he forced himself to get up, Joonghyuk tried to move his arm, but found that an odd weigh was wrapped around it. Joonghyuk looked to his side, and his mind momentarily short circuited when he saw Kim Dokja curled up beside him, using his arm as a pillow, fast asleep and hugging him tightly.

What…

…oh, right

Untangling the utter catastrophe that his mind had become for the second time that morning upon seeing what—or who actually—was clinging to him, Joonghyuk was able to wrangle together a somewhat comprehensive timeline of what happened last night. What a relief it was, then, that he didn’t startle Dokja with his own rude awakening.

How silly. He was supposed to be the metaphorical tether in case Dokja’s nightmares once again reared their ugly head, and here Dokja was, taking his job from him. Joonghyuk couldn’t find it in him to feel guilty. He’d gladly give lots more to Dokja. Though, today it looked like he would be the one receiving Dokja’s aid once more, his pheromones dissolving all tension that lingered in Joonghyuk’s psyche.

Eyes that burned with hatred for him and him alone were replaced by the image of Joonghyuk’s hand, slowly reaching out to brush against Dokja's cheek, feeling the soft, yielding skin beneath his fingertips. There was no cold to be found. Echoes of the baby’s forlorn screams were overlaid by the small snort that Dokja made, before he tried pulling himself even closer to Joonghyuk. A small smile played on Joonghyuk’s lips. He didn’t know that the mere act of sleeping could be considered beautiful, but here Dokja was, looking so utterly serene, so completely at ease.

Maybe what he was doing right now could be called selfish, allowing Dokja’s overwhelming existence swallow up whatever embers made up the Yoo Joonghyuk he was before this. Mia was here, and whatever other facets of the past he’d stepped away from would be next in making itself known to him. And it definitely wouldn’t be as kind to him as Mia’s arrival had been. The dreams and images were becoming more and more frequent, and Joonghyuk could feel something within himself changing. But why would he ever want to go back to who he was before. Why would he ever want to go back to being a Yoo Joonghyuk that had never met Kim Dokja, when Dokja was right here, his closed eyes hiding away an entire universe within their depths.

It could wait another day, perhaps tomorrow. A phrase Joonghyuk had been repeating to himself many times, this past week. For now, he wanted to savor this moment. Any moment with Dokja, really. Besides, dwelling on it right now held the potential for his pheromones to shift, to become bitter and unpleasant. No reason to needlessly cause Dokja discomfort. It was enough of a reason to make Joonghyuk shelve the troubling thoughts for later.

He continued to caress Dokja's face, his touch gentle and lingering. His wrist brushed accidentally against Dokja's neck gland—the exquisitely sensitive area of an omega, a point of vulnerability that promised a lifetime bond with a single bite. The course of an entire lifetime determined by one action, for better or for worse. The want to do so was there, it was hard to miss. But that could wait. For now, Joonghyuk contented himself with a subtler form of intimacy. He reached around Dokja, careful not to jostle him, and rubbed his wrist against Dokja's neck gland, allowing his own pheromones to mingle with Dokja's.

A deep sense of satisfaction bloomed within him. To have Dokja enveloped in his scent, marked as his, filled him with a quiet joy. In his heart, Dokja was already his—a fact he readily admitted was delusional, even to himself. But with Dokja, it didn't matter. He couldn't help himself, not when it came to the omega who had so completely captivated his soul.

Joonghyuk's eyes widened in surprise as he felt a low rumble against his chest—Dokja purring, a soft, contented sound that vibrated through him. The omega was instinctively snuggling closer, seeking more of his touch. Joonghyuk closed his eyes, a soft smile gracing his lips. Dokja was so incredibly cute, his heart melting at the sound and the action. The urge to fully claim him intensified, threatening to overwhelm his self-control

But he knew, even as desire threatened to consume him, that he needed to rein in his impulsive instincts.
Joonghyuk would wait for Dokja. He would wait a lifetime, if necessary. He would wait forever.

The first thing he noticed when his mind floated to consciousness was a deep scent filling his senses with every breath. It was…Joonghyuk. Right, of course it was Joonghyuk’s. Dokja shifted, rolling over in search of the warmth that was supposed to be beside him. His hand reached out, only to meet the cool bed sheets. A frown creased his brow as his fingers scrabbled in vain. Peeling open his eyes against the stray rays of light that made their way through the curtain, Dokja found the space beside him vacant; Joonghyuk was gone.

He sat up with a grunt, his eyes narrowed in a thoughtful frown as he scanned the room. Joonghyuk was nowhere to be found; only the pale morning light offered him company. His ears picked up faint noises from further down the house, though. Of course, there was the familiar noise of Joonghyuk in the kitchen—so that’s where he’d gone off to. But along with that there was another noise that was becoming increasingly familiar within the walls of his home. The faints sound of muffled voices came through the walls. The words themselves weren’t able to be made out, but the voices were there.

Looks like he was the last one to wake up. That was his sign that he needed to get out of bed already. Dokja threw the blankets off of himself, shivering as his feet met the cold floor. But he hesitated to stand up, casting a glance back at Joonghyuk's bed, which still held the lingering scent of his pheromones. Ugh, he used to roll his eyes at all those omegas who always flaunted about alpha pheromones being some sort of miracle cure-all. You’d think they were talking about cocaine or something, the manic way some of them raved about it. Look at him now, having to actively convince himself out of dragging Joonghyuk’s pillow over to him to bury his face into it.

Dokja bit his lip, looking up at the bedroom door. Well, it’s not like there was anyone here to judge him for it. And if either of the house's occupants decided to make their way upstairs, he’d be able to hear their steps. Still worrying his lips between his teeth, Dokja let himself lean over the bed, dragging Joonghyuk’s pillow toward himself. Trying to push all the embarrassment out of his mind, he hugged the pillow tightly and buried his head in it, taking a deep breath.

Then one more.

Then one more.

Then one more.

Then one more.

Then one mo—okay, that’s enough for him!
Dokja flung the pillow away from him back to its place, lest he spend the whole morning standing there inhaling pheromones. He shuddered to think what Sooyoung would say if she ever found out he’d ever done something like this.

Shaking the thought way, he began making his way downstairs in earnest this time (not before checking the mirror to make sure his face wasn’t too flushed). As he stepped downstairs, a conversation from the kitchen drifted over.

"—can’t we make pancakes, Oppa?"

"Mia, pancakes aren’t a healthy food for breakfast, they’re basically a dessert. If you want something sweet, I can cut up a few fruits for you."

"But that’s boring! Please, Oppa! Come on, pleeeeease~"

“Mia—”

“All my other classmates always talk about how their parents make them pancakes. It’s been so long since we’ve had breakfast together…I just want it to be perfect…”

Dokja could practically see it in his mind's eye—Mia's pleading gaze, those wide, hopeful eyes tilted up at Joonghyuk. Props to her for laying on the guilt thick, she really was becoming a little trickster. He was entertained as much as he was apprehensive at how it would affect everyone around her once Mia realized her full potential for mischief. He heard Joonghyuk give a long-suffering sigh, the sound of a man surrendering to the pitiful eyes of a scheming child. A giggle escaped Dokja's lips; he knew that tactic all too well. Gilyeong and Yoosung had coerced one too many trips to the zoo from him with that look alone.

"…fine, but just this once," Joonghyuk conceded, albeit reluctantly.

"YAY!" Mia cheered, not a hint of the sadness in her tone earlier present anymore.

And as Dokja stood there, it struck him. How, before, his home had never felt so…lived in, so to speak. Just a place to store his books and pass out after work. Dokja's smile widened; the sound of their voices, their easy interaction, filled him with warmth. The house had been too quiet before, a stifling silence that only his own voice could break. He didn’t particularly enjoy noise, but there was something undeniably comforting in the sounds of Joonghyuk and Mia's interaction.

He barely knew Mia, yet her presence brought a lightness to the atmosphere that intrigued him. And he yearned to learn more about Joonghyuk—to understand the man who was now entwined with his life, and to see him through the eyes of someone who had known him longer, someone like Mia.

His steps carried him towards the kitchen’s warm glow. And there they were. Mia, small and focused, carefully measured out and mixed the pancake batter.

Joonghyuk, meanwhile, methodically arranged an array of fresh fruit—strawberries, blueberries, slices of banana—for their topping. Dokja felt a strange pang in his chest. They just…fit together. Joonghyuk, patient and guiding, seemed every bit like a father figure as he taught Mia the art of pancake preparation. The thought sent a flutter through his heart.

Mia looked up from the batter, her eyes widening slightly as she spotted Dokja standing frozen in the doorway. "Oh, Ahjushi…wait, I don’t have to share my pancakes with him, do I?" she said to her older brother, in lieu of a greeting.

Joonghyuk gave her a look. “Not unless you can eat eight pancakes by yourself along with the rest of your breakfast. This batch is enough to go around.” He turned to Dokja with a small smile. "You’re up early. There’s some more time to spare before you need to get ready for work if you want to go back to bed. I’ll wake you up," he offered, his voice low and warm.

Lightly turning down the offer, Dokja moved towards the counter, pulling out a chair to sit. "Don’t mind waking up a bit early. Especially now that it looks like Mia’s putting you to work already with the pancakes," he noted, lifting a teasing eyebrow to Joonghyuk.

"She insisted we make them. She gave me no other choice,” was his quick defense to it.

Mia, however, pouted, her lower lip jutting out slightly. "Oppa, don’t make it sound like I forced you or something. I requested it, I even said please! “There’s a difference," she insisted, then turned to Dokja with a hard stare. "Don't believe him, Ahjussi. Oppa's lying."

Dokja chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, alright," he conceded, his smile widening. He glanced around the kitchen, taking in the scene. "Can I help with anything?" he offered.

"Don’t even bother asking. With a cook like Oppa in the kitchen, having anyone else help him would just make the food worse. I’m the exception, of course," Mia stated flippantly, turning to her brother. "Right, Oppa?" she added, seeking confirmation.

Joonghyuk nodded in agreement. "Of course," he confirmed, then moved to the counter, placing a plate laden with colorful fruit down with a gentle clink. "Just sit there and let the chefs handle everything," he said, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

Dokja’s eyes lingered there for a second longer than they should’ve, but he quickly shook himself out of it.

"Alright, I’ll do just that. With chef Mia here no doubt everything will turn out delicious. Just like that cupcake I had last night," he murmured. Mia looked up at surprise at him, before ducking her head to hide the embarrassed but proud smile that appeared on her face. It wasn’t long before the two siblings fell into a smooth flow, naturally working with each other to put together the ingredients. Dokja watched as they worked together in the kitchen, the easy rhythm of their movements created. It struck him that cooking together seemed like the perfect way to foster their connection and spend some time together.

After the pancakes were cooked, adorned with colorful fruit, they began to eat. The atmosphere was anything but silent; Mia regaled them with a lively account of how she had first met Gilyeong and Yoosung. Dokja found himself chuckling at her animated storytelling.

Afterward, Mia and Dokja went to properly get ready for the morning; her to prepare for school, him to ready himself for work. Joonghyuk remained behind to clean the kitchen and wash the dishes. As he swept up the last of the crumbs on the floor, he heard the sound of approaching footsteps.

Mia appeared in the doorway, her school uniform neat and crisp, her hair styled in cheerful pigtails, her school bag slung over her shoulder. "I'm ready!" she announced brightly.

Joonghyuk nodded, then called out towards the stairs, his voice carrying clearly. "Dokja, we're leaving for Mia’s school now!"

A moment later, Dokja's voice echoed back from upstairs. "Alright! Have fun with the others, Mia!"
Joonghyuk turned his attention back to Mia. "Ready to go?" he asked gently.

"Yeah!" Mia replied enthusiastically.

Joonghyuk nodded, grabbing a black jacket from the hook by the door, and together, he and Mia stepped out into the morning.

Mia walked with a skip in her step, a lightness in her heart.

It wasn't the first time her brother had accompanied her to school, but it was certainly the first time it had been just the two of them. Before, there had always been a retinue of bodyguards and assistants. She liked Jihye, Hyunsung, and Seolhwa well enough, but the presence of so many people had always felt stifling.

Now, walking beside her brother, the only sounds those of their footsteps and their easy conversation, Mia felt happy. The distance to school was short, but it gave her more time with the brother she was slowly getting to know again.

They reached the school gates. Mia looked up at her brother. "Here we are," she said, a touch of quiet pride in her voice.

Joonghyuk hummed in acknowledgement. Mia glanced around, noticing a few people stealing glances at her brother. Even with the cap pulled low and the black jacket obscuring some of his features, he stood out like a sore thumb. Mia couldn't blame them; her brother was, in her completely unbiased opinion, the most handsome person in the entire world.

Joonghyuk gently ruffled Mia's hair, his hand resting briefly on her head. "Alright, I'll be back to pick you up at one," he said, his tone casual yet firm.

Mia froze, her eyes wide as she stared up at him, completely dumbfounded. "You’re...going to pick me up?" she repeated, her voice barely a whisper. Her brother had never picked her up from school before, not once. Mornings were different since their days started around the same time, but school always ended in the middle of his work time.

Joonghyuk hummed thoughtfully, his gaze softening as he studied his sister's expression. A slight frown creased his brow. "Or… did you not want me to?" he asked, uncertainty coloring his voice.

Mia's eyes widened in immediate alarm. "I want you to!" she shouted, startling a few of the other parents that were staring at the two of them.

Joonghyuk recoiled slightly at her outburst, but he recovered quickly, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He patted her head again. "Alright then, I’ll be right here when you get out. Have a great day," he said warmly.

Mia's face lit up. "I will," she nodded eagerly. Joonghyuk stood watching as Mia walked towards the school gates, not bothering to hide the bounce in her step. She paused for a moment, turning back to give him one last look. "Bye-bye, Oppa!" she called, waving enthusiastically.

Joonghyuk waved back, a gentle smile on his face as he watched her go.

Later that day, during lunch time, Mia opened her lunchbox to find a little note tucked behind her soup thermos.

“Mia, I hope you’re having a good day at school. Enjoy your lunch, and make sure to finish eating everything.
Oppa”

Beside the writing was a strange scribble. After trying to look at it at different angles and squinting at it really hard, Mia finally figured out what it was after Yoosung beside her commented about how cute the cat doodle on the note was.

Carefully tucking the note back into her lunchbox, Mia began eating her food. Even it had all been burnt and inedible, it wouldn’t have dampened the wide smile on her face.

Chapter Text

Chapter 32: Him

"I still don't get it!" Jihye huffed, falling back dramatically onto the car’s leather seats. With the way she was sitting, she took up all three back car seats. She gave a small kick to her backpack on the floor, just to emphasize her point.

Hyunsung glanced at her through the rearview mirror. offering a small smile, a half-hearted attempt at comfort. He would chide her to not get anymore scuff marks on the car than there already were, but honestly, he was feeling just as frustrated as she was. Months had gone by and not a single word about their boss’s whereabouts. Their group had scoured all over the city in search of Joonghyuk, but it was like he completely disappeared into thin air. Worst of all, it seemed like they were the only ones that even cared to see Joonghyuk return safely. The other members of the family hadn’t said a word about it, much less provide any support in the search. The weight of the boss’s absence was starting to show its effects on all of the group’s members.

Even Jihye, one of the most optimistic amongst themselves, was showing signs of weariness. Shadows lingered in her usually bright eyes and confident personality. Most of her free time had become devoted to helping the search effort, and if there wasn’t anything to do, relentless sword training. It seemed like the only one who could convince her to take a bit of a breather was that Kim Namwoon boy she always hung out with. For that, Hyunsung gave a silent thanks.

"I'm starting to lose hope…" Her eyes were downcast, her fists clenched tightly in her lap. "I feel like… Master isn't coming back anymore," she murmured, scared if she talked any louder it would come true.

Hyunsung sighed, briefly taking his eyes off the road to look at her before returning his attention to driving.

"Don't be like that, Jihye," he said softly, his hands firm on the steering wheel. "Don't lose hope. He will come back to us. Every one of our men are out there trying to find him. And even if we can’t find him now, he’s perfectly capable of taking care of himself until we do."

Jihye shook her head, sitting up to lean up behind the driver’s seat, right behind him. "Of course Master is able to handle himself, he’s the strongest! But what if it’s something else…” She trailed off, but Hyunsung understood perfectly.

"Jihye… we still haven’t heard anything, and we haven’t found a body—"

"Exactly! We haven't!" Jihye interrupted, her voice rising in pitch, her hands trembling as she imagined the worst-case scenarios. "Meaning there's still a possibility that he's out there, somewhere! He’s the strongest, could probably recover from that crash just fine through sheer willpower alone. But what if someone or something else got to him before he could? Or what if he's being tortured? To death?!" she cried out.

Hyunsung offered Jihye a look of gentle understanding. The thoughts she was voicing had long since crossed his own mind, yet, as long as there was no body, a tiny thread of hope remained—a thread he desperately clung to. "Please, don't be like that," he urged softly. “ We will find him. And who knows, maybe he’s closer than we think he is."

The car was silent for a few moments.

"…but what if that’s not all there is to it. What if…" She looked down, her brow furrowed in thought, before lifting her gaze back to his. "What if he just doesn’t want to be found?"

Hyunsung froze for a moment, the question caught him off guard. He hadn't considered that possibility. "Why would the Boss not want to be found?" he asked, his brow furrowed in thought.

Jihye gave a huge sigh, flopping back against the seats again. "I don't know," Jihye replied frankly, waving her hands emphatically within the confines of the car. "Maybe he just didn't like living like this anymore? Maybe he's had enough of everyone—especially that Ahjumma woman! I still don't understand her. And it’s not just her either! Everyone in that family of theirs is freaking weird as hell. And you can’t tell me you haven’t seen them acting weirder and weirder ever since Master went missing. It’s like they can’t decide whether or not they should show that they’re glad that Master went missing, so they’ve just settled on being emotionless all the time. I mean, it’s not like it’s too different from how they usually are, but still! I didn’t think silence could be so condescending until I saw them. It’s like Master and his sister got all the good genes. How does that happen?"

She spoke so rapidly that Hyunsung had to struggle to keep up with her torrent of words.

Hyunsung sighed, gently reminding her, "Lee Jihye, I think you're losing track. Let's focus on your theory."

"What? Oh, right…" Jihye cleared her throat, attempting to regain her composure. "As I was saying, what if Master didn't want to be found because… because…" She hesitated, her finger tapping lightly against her leg, her brow furrowed in concentration, as she searched for the right words.

Hyunsung sighed inwardly, thinking this was the end of her somewhat disjointed theory, but then Jihye uttered something that genuinely shocked him.

"What if… he ran away with someone?" she blurted out, her eyes wide with a mixture of disbelief and excitement. She gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth. "What if… what if I'm right?" she whispered, her voice barely audible but filled with a sudden surge of giddiness.

Hyunsung was silently thankful that they had arrived at the school gates. Jihye, eager for a response, leaned forward expectantly, hoping to hear some clue from Hyunsung to prove her point—maybe he’d caught a glimpse of her boss with someone in his arms, or a tender smile overcoming his face while staring at a phone screen. But Hyunsung's expression shifted, his features hardening into a neutral, serious mask. "That's not at all likely," he stated flatly. "The Boss’s main aim has always been to ensure his position in the family and company remain stable and strong."

Jihye's mouth fell open, her hopeful expression collapsing as she slumped back in her seat. All the excitement, the burgeoning possibility, evaporated. The secret romance, the hidden love affair with an omega or even a beta—it was all gone. "Seriously?" she questioned brazenly. She leaned back further, a defeated air about her. "Are you sure? What about that stuff that everyone was whispering about between Master and Seolhwa?" she asked again, seeking some flicker of hope to reignite the possibility.

Hyunsung shook his head, watching Jihye's face fall. As much as he wanted to tell her something to lift her mood a bit—that he’d once seen a different side to their boss, a softer, more vulnerable side that suggested a hidden attachment—he couldn’t. He settled instead on a more factual statement. "I have never seen the Boss be romantically attached to anyone. The only person he cares for on a deeper emotional level would be his younger sister, but that’s all," he said, the finality of his tone intended to put an end to the speculation. But Jihye was not so easily dissuaded.

"Maybe you just don't know," Jihye countered, adopting a conspiratorial tone, her eyes gleaming with a newfound energy. "Maybe he sees his lover when everyone's asleep? Maybe he's hiding this lover from the world because he thinks the family wouldn't approve?" She leaned forward, filled with a certain theatrical flair. "What if it's like that?"

Hyunsung stared at Jihye, disbelief and amusement on his face. It was a nice change of pace from her negativity from earlier, even if she seemed to be completely engrossed in this new fanciful theory of hers. As brazen and tomboyish as she appeared to be on the outside, Hyunsung knew Jihye legitimately enjoyed consuming any kind of romantic fiction she could get her hands on, no matter how corny or outlandish. And as happy as he was that Jihye had a hobby outside of fighting and sword training, he was inwardly grateful that she had never been particularly interested in sharing in the specifics of her hobby; this outburst confirmed his suspicion that he probably didn’t want to know. And, judging by the gleam in her eye, he had a feeling this wasn't the end of her theories.

"Then what if," Jihye continued, , "Master orchestrated this whole mess—the disappearance, the chaos—to create an excuse to be with his lover? Or maybe they did run away together, somewhere far away, like Europe?!" She paused for breath. Then, a new thought struck her, and she gasped dramatically, her eyes wide. "What if… the omega is pregnant?!"

Hyunsung stared at Jihye, momentarily speechless. Finally, he managed to articulate a question. "How can you be so sure it's an omega?"

Jihye's eyes widened. "Is it a beta? Really? But I feel like it's an omega…" She scratched her head thoughtfully. "But anyway, I want to meet them! I want to talk to them, find out how they managed to sweep the Master off his feet. Let's be real, with how Master is, whoever he gets with has to be just as strong as him, if not stronger. Like, squish a watermelon with their bare hands and come out on top in a ten vs. one—" She was cut short by Hyunsung.

"Ah… as much as I’d love to hear more about your… comprehensive theory," Hyunsung began delicately "I’m afraid you’re about to be late for class." He reached for her bag, shoving it into her chest.

"Bu-but… I still have so more ideas!" Jihye protested.

Hyunsung opened the car door. "Yes, yes, better head to class before you teacher reprimands you…again.”

Jihye pouted, but finally stepped out of the car. "Fiiiine," she conceded, "but you better listen to me later, okay?"
Hyunsung, already feeling slightly overwhelmed, simply nodded, waving as she hurried towards the school building. He watched her go, a faint smile playing on his lips. He'd certainly have a lot to think about before she got out of school for the day.

Hyunsung rested his hands on the steering wheel, but the car remained stationary. His mind, however, was far from still. He replayed Jihye's theory in his head, the sheer audacity of it somehow compelling. What if, just what if, she was right? That their boss was simply hiding somewhere, with a mate? But as much as he told himself that even the most absurd of ideas should be considered before being outright rejected, his skepticism persisted. He shook his head, a wry smile touching his lips. He'd always been a man of facts, rather than speculation. He needed to see it to believe it. For now, it was nothing more than a fantastical theory.

He drove away, but something about Jihye's outlandish theory clung to the edges of his thoughts, no matter how hard he tried to brush it off.

Jihye walked briskly towards the school gates, a spring in her step. She wasn't late; in fact, she still had a comfortable twenty minutes before her first class was scheduled to begin. Being early was always a good strategy. It was hard to miss how Hyunsung had been utterly overwhelmed by her idea, but she couldn't help herself! It wasn’t her fault the world constantly sent her signals that everything was just a romance novel.

As she walked, Jihye's mind already whirred with new theories, spinning elaborate scenarios around what exactly her master had been up to for all this time, who the main love interest was, who the antagonist was, that one seemingly nice side character that would later betray Master and seize power from him…Jihye could feel her brain power expanding as she linked together all the possibilities. She had to be onto something! She saw this kind of stuff all the time in the shows and books that she read, and surely they wouldn’t lie to her, right?

As a matter of fact, she would do more research right now! If she was going to convince Hyunsung of her logic, she would need to provide solid evidence. Jihye pulled out her phone, fully intending on flash banging Hyunsung with every GL and Bl series that she had carefully compiled throughout the years.

Just as she had begun scrolling through her lists, a ping from her phone interrupted her reverie. She looked at the notification, a smile quickly fading as she saw the sender.

[Dipshit]
- Yo
- Could you buy me some kimbap from the convenience store?
- I forgot to eat
- My stomach is growling at me

A frown pinched Jihye's face as she read Namwoon's text. It wasn’t that she minded doing a quick run to the store for him—well, actually, she kind of did. She had some more pressing matters that she wanted to see to right now—it was just that the guy always skimmed out on paying her back. Whenever she pestered him about it he’d always just shrug it off and say he’d get the money for her some other day. Jihye could probably swim in all the money that Namwoon owed her. It wasn’t like she was short on cash, but it was getting pretty annoying.

[Jihye]
- Fine, but you promise you'll pay me back this time. Or I will dye your hair pink and blue.

Namwoon's reply came swiftly:

[Dipshit]
- Blue and pink? Nah, I don't want to look like cotton candy
- I'll pay you back double
- Just buy me the kimbap, I'm starving!
- Oh, and grab me a banana milk
- Thanks, you're the best!

Ugh. Leech.

Jihye rolled her eyes, a fond exasperation evident in the gesture, before tucking her phone back into her pocket. Whatever, she could go for a few snacks herself. With that, she set off towards the convenience store just a short walk away from the school, her hands shoved deep into her pockets as she strolled along.

As she walked, a sea of students in identical uniforms surrounded her, chattering amongst themselves in animated groups. A shriek of laughter came out of nowhere from the distance, guiding Jihye’s eyes to look up and an incoming group of girls. They were the preppy kind, with all kinds of charms decorating their bags, a few inches cut off their skirts, and about ten pounds of makeup piled onto their faces. They were loudly gossiping about something, not paying attention at how everyone around them sent them annoyed looks as they all burst out into another round of obnoxious giggles. Jihye rolled her eyes to herself, pulling out her earbuds and turning her music on full blast as she walked past them, blocking out them and everyone else around her.

Soon enough she arrived at the convenience store, a sign outside showing the store’s name in bright colors alongside a faded drawing of its little mascot character. Jihye pulled out her phone again to check what Namwoon wanted her to get. And shit—almost ten minutes had passed ever since Hyunsung dropped her off. Ten minutes to buy all the stuff, run back to school, drop off Namwoon’s food, and then get to class. If it really came down to it, then maybe Namwoon would just have to settle for being hungry for a few more hours until lunch, ‘cause no way was Jihye getting lectured by her stick-in-the-mud of a teacher again. Still, she picked up her pace, her leisurely stroll turning into a light jog.

And it was right there just inside the entrance of the store that she smacked headfirst into a wall.

She recoiled back with an unpleasant thud, sending Jihye sprawling onto her butt. Luckily, her fall was relatively painless, with her instincts kicking in the turn her body in a way that wouldn’t hurt her.

A hand appeared before her, offering assistance. Without hesitation, Jihye grasped it, allowing herself to be pulled up to her feet. She looked up, expecting to see the wall that she bumped into, and doing a double take when she was instead met with a hulking mass of a man who loomed over her. His clothes weren’t helping how unapproachable her looked—black cap, black mask, black clothes—if they guy was trying to make himself look a little less conspicuous, then he failed miserably, Jihye noted in her mind. Most people might have felt intimidated but considering the kinds of people and jobs that Jihye immersed herself on in a regular basis, this was nothing out of the ordinary.

"Sorry, you okay?" the man asked.

"Oh, yeah I…" Jihye murmured, distracted as a ping came from her phone, still clenched in her hand. She quickly shot a look at it

[Dipshit]

- Where are you?
- I'm so hungry, I’m dying over here

Shoot, that’s right, she was in the middle of doing something.

"Something's wrong?"

Jihye shot him a quick glance as she pocketed her phone.

“No, not really. So, uh, looked Ahjussi, I’m kind of in a rush here. Sorry for bumping into you but I need to get to my own stuff here,” and with those rushed parting words, Jihye gave him a nod before quickly walking past him into the store. Swiping up a basket she went straight to the back of the small store to where all the food was and started shoveling whatever she could grab into it. A few tuna kimbap, milk, and an extra bag of chips for Namwoon, and then a large bowl of instant noodles along with some fish cakes, sweet bread, and a drink for herself.

Doing a scan of the other shelves to make sure she didn’t miss anything else, she jogged up to the cashier and poured all the stuff onto the checkout counter.
She checked her phone again: seven more minutes to spare before class started.

“…collaboration between Murim company and Minosoft has seen positive results for workflow efficiency, according to sources from within both organizations. Ever since the first official announcement of this arrangement, stock prices for the companies involved have—”

Jihye’s ears pricked up at the familiar name, looking up at the television screen propped up in the corner behind the cashier. The screen showed a news report about the Murim Company, the image shifting to show two men shaking hands—the familiar face of the Murim Company director and a stranger, someone Jihye didn't recognize.

The news report shifted again, giving Jihye a clearer view of the director—Woojin. His face was on that soulless, cordial look that he put on when he was doing a business deal or talking to literally anyone. Tch, he only got away with it because he was lucky enough to have a handsome face similar to Master’s. But Master definitely had the better looks! His golden eyes shined brighter, and his hair was way wavier than that Ahjussi’s.

And…and…

…huh.

Golden eyes…and wavy hair…

In that moment, it felt like she was drenched in ice cold water. Jihye went rigid, then her head snapped over to the store entrance where she fell, trying to recall every second of the encounter. The hat and mask hid the majority of his face, and she wasn’t able to see his body type through the hoodie. But from what she remembered from the short glance she sent to his face, she thought she could recall some black hair curling from under his hat. And his height seemed to match up with Master’s too… but what color were his eyes?

Jihye racked her head desperately, trying to recall it. Was she really right, or was this just wishful thinking just making her see what she wanted to see?

“—cuse me? Will you be paying with card or cash today—”

“SHIT, just hold on and give me a second!” Jihye didn’t pay any mind to the cashier’s fearful squeak. She pressed her fingers against her temple. His voice, was his voice the same? No, it was muffled beneath the mask and she was hardly paying attention to what he said.

Think, THINK Jihye! Any other hint that would confirm what she was thinking or if she really was going crazy.

Then, Jihye brought her hand int front of her. Her right one, the one that the stranger had pulled her up with. Hesitantly, she brought it up to her nose: sandalwood and cedarwood. That was it.

THAT WAS IT

Without a second thought, Jihye abandoned her purchases, flying out of the convenience store. The cashier’s calls went unanswered; Jihye was already sprinting away, going down the street. She had to find him again.

She pushed and shoved her way down the sidewalk, getting yelled at and cussed out by all sorts of people. But dammit, it didn’t matter, because she would never forgive herself if she just let Master slip away like that. Jihye dashed through the entirety of the block, and then the ones surrounding that one. But all she could see were other students and other regular pedestrians.

No one dressed in all black. No person that stood taller than the rest of the crowd. No Master.

Frustration clawed at her; she ran a hand through her hair, breathless and sweating from the exertion. It didn't matter. She had to find him. Taking a deep, steady breath, she pulled out her phone.

Two rings, then Hyunsung’s voice. “[Jihye? Did you forget something—?]”

“I saw him.”

“[…Who…? ]”

“Master… I saw him earlier. He’s here, somewhere in the area.”